Rovanperä is aiming for his first win on the gravel roads of Central Finland. During Thursday morning’s shakedown, the Finn already showcased his speed, finishing second fastest behind his compatriot, Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi.
Rovanperä is now attempting to win on home soil for the fourth time.
“Feeling pretty good. This weekend is really great with so many people watching and the Finns cheering us on. It’s quite cool,” Rovanperä said.
The home rally is special for all Finns, but according to Rovanperä, preparation has gone as per usual.
“If good results come with normal preparation elsewhere, there’s no point in changing it,” Rovanperä stated.
Rovanperä is satisfied with his car. Everything works.
“The car feels pretty good. The conditions in the tests were quite different from the shakedown, but the car still felt good there. We had to make some adjustments. Let’s hope the car is fast and good to drive in the rally as well,” Rovanperä hoped.
Last year in Jyväskylä, Rovanperä was at top speed, setting fastest times frequently. However, in Myhinpää, the Finn drove off the road, and dreams of victory slipped away.
“The tactic is the same as last year, but this time without the slip-up,” Rovanperä coolly remarked.
“I think we’ll have to push pretty hard the whole weekend. The gaps are sure to be small again, as they have been in recent years at this rally. Hyundai has been very strong in these fast gravel rallies. The competition will surely be fierce. We just need to try to drive without mistakes and push hard. Then we’ll see where we stand,” Rovanperä predicted.
Rally Finland begins traditionally with the Harju special stage on Thursday evening. Traditionally, nothing can be won in Harju, but at worst, the whole race can be lost there.
“It’s an OK stage. From a driver’s perspective, it’s not very nice, especially if it’s wet in the evening. It can be quite tricky then. But there are a lot of people watching, and the atmosphere is good, though it’s not the most enjoyable stage to drive,” Rovanperä commented on the rally opener.
In addition to Harju, the iconic long Ouninpohja is making a return this year. The legendary stage is perhaps the most anticipated special stage of the entire rally. Ouninpohja will be driven twice on Saturday.
“It feels good, even though I have no experience of it. Most other drivers last drove it in 2017 or 2018. I don’t think it makes a huge difference that they’ve driven it before, but maybe others have their lines a bit better figured out than I do,” Rovanperä anticipated.
One of the talking points of the rally has been the so-called virtual chicane. The artificial system has not received flattering feedback from the drivers. Rovanperä is not a fan either.
“It’s not very easy. There’s some delay in the speed tracker, and probably differences between cars as well. You have to wait for the light to turn green, and the driver can’t really see it; it’s more for the co-driver. There are quite a few variables. I reckon there will be some differences there,” Rovanperä predicted.
In recent weeks, a fierce rumour has spread in the rally world that Rovanperä might not compete in the WRC next year. Is there a possibility that you might not drive in the WRC next year?
“There’s always a chance, but I don’t know where these rumours have come from. I don’t think it’s very likely,” Rovanperä pondered.
