In most motorsport series, the championship usually turns into a two-horse race at some point in the season.
But this year’s WRC campaign appears to be an exception. At the halfway point of the season, there are realistically still four – possibly even five – drivers in the hunt for the title.
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak took over the championship lead at Rally Estonia, but only by a single point ahead of Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, who had led the standings for most of the year.
Toyota part-timer Sébastien Ogier is just 21 points behind Tänak, and Kalle Rovanperä sits 24 points back. Even Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville can’t be counted out entirely, despite the reigning champion now trailing the leader by 48 points.
Toyota’s deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen firmly believes the championship battle could still take many unexpected twists and turns.
“Nothing has been decided yet,” Kankkunen told RallyJournal.com.
“The dynamics change so quickly. If someone retires, another driver can immediately gain 25 points,” he pointed out.
Since Rally Sweden in February, Evans has been the one clearing the roads as championship leader – but now the roles are about to reverse.
“Tänak is a world champion too, and he’s opened the road before. But now it’s his turn to sweep the gravel again,” Kankkunen noted.
