In the studio’s “quick stage” segment, host Satu Tuomisto posed statements about current issues to Kalle Rovanperä, Esapekka Lappi’s co-driver Janne Ferm, and commentator Juho Kokko.
The first statement was that there should be more tarmac rallies in the World Rally Championship. Rovanperä gave a thumbs up.
“I didn’t say I like them, but it’s the WRC and it should run as much as possible under all possible conditions,” Rovanperä told MTV.
One statement was also that “the current starting order is good”. Currently, the starting order is determined by the standings in the championship, and the leader of the series has to play the role of road sweeper at the start of the rally.
Rovanperä gave a thumbs down to this statement.
“It punishes the series leader too much in gravel races,” Rovanperä said bluntly.
“In the European Rally Championship, they still do it so that there’s a qualifying stage first. In the shakedown, you see who’s fastest and in that order, you get to choose your starting position. It doesn’t punish the series leader as much,” Rovanperä suggested.
For the two-time world champion Rovanperä, playing the role of the road sweeper is all too familiar from recent years. This system was also very familiar to Sebastien Ogier, who often complained about the same issue.
Finally, they also touched on the points scoring system revamped for this season in the championship. The trio agreed unanimously that the conditionality of points on Saturdays should be completely removed.
