Hirvonen, 19, was in a league of his own in the SM4 class of the Savonlinna Rally on Saturday, securing victory with a one-minute margin over Tomi Tikkinen.
However, the young driver had to battle hard against Lauri Halonen throughout the event. Before the final stage, 15-year-old Halonen was just 1.5 seconds behind Hirvonen, but the youngster ended up in a snowbank on the last stage.
Hirvonen felt sorry for his rival after reaching the finish.
“It was a tight battle until the end. I feel bad for Lauri. We agreed that we would both make it to the finish. But that’s how it goes in tough competition,” Hirvonen said.
Roope Hirvonen is a second-generation rally driver, as his father, Mikko Hirvonen, had a successful career at the very top of the WRC. Roope benefits from close mentorship, as his father also serves as his co-driver in their Ford Fiesta.
In Savonlinna, Mikko Hirvonen experienced his first-ever Finnish Rally Championship class victory as a co-driver.
“I’m way out of my comfort zone here all the time. This seat would really be better suited for someone else,” Mikko Hirvonen quipped.
Roope Hirvonen’s early season has been impressive, showing clear progress from last year. In the three rallies of the winter season, he secured one win, one second-place finish, and one third-place result.
In the SM4 standings, he is currently second, just five points behind leader Tikkinen. Additionally, Hirvonen leads the junior championship.
“It definitely feels good to finish the winter season with a success like this,” Hirvonen said with joy.
At the prize-giving ceremony in Savonlinna’s market square, it became clear which Hirvonen had more experience in opening a champagne bottle. Roope Hirvonen had already been drenched in bubbly by his father and fellow competitors before he even managed to pop the cork on his own bottle.
When the cork finally flew, it was Roope’s turn to return the favour and give his father a champagne shower.
The Finnish Rally Championship’s summer season kicks off in May in the Turku region.
