Rovanperä was called to the event on Tuesday evening after Sébastien Ogier was injured in a reconnaissance collision. The Finnish star had to prepare the pace notes for the special stages on a very tight schedule, and the situation was by no means easy.
However, the two-time world champion once again showcased his skill and raced to victory. On Super Sunday, Rovanperä also collected a significant haul of points. In total, Rovanperä earned 27 points for the team over the weekend, making his emergency call to Poland an outstanding success.
“I sincerely appreciate Kalle and Jonne (co-driver Halttunen) for accepting the team’s sudden request and driving with the strong intention of supporting the team. Jari-Matti (Latvala) told them that the team was not asking them to win and just wanted them to help us in any way possible, but they ended up winning,” Toyoda says.
“They surprised us by achieving such a great result, doing the maximum preparation possible in a very short amount of time. Thank you, Kalle and Jonne for this delightful surprise! I believe that the sudden switch from car #17 to #69 was not an easy task, so I am also grateful to the team members who made it happen.”
Toyoda also extended his thanks to Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, who finished in second place. Toyota managed to close the gap to Hyundai in the manufacturers’ championship by three points. The Korean manufacturer now leads by ten points.
“I am really thankful to Elfyn and Scott for securing the valuable second place! I believe that achieving a one-two finish in this rally, which marks the halfway point of the season, is very meaningful towards the manufacturers’ title. And it must have been a meaningful achievement for Elfyn and Scott as well,” Toyoda remarks.
“They have been strong in our home rallies, so I am expecting their strong performance in the second half of the season, which includes our home rallies in Finland and Japan! The team will continue to fight together in the second half of the season.”
The WRC season continues in mid-July in Latvia. The event on the gravel roads of Central Finland follows in early August.
