Rovanperä was the fastest on Friday’s penultimate stage in Strazde, extending his lead to 8.9 seconds. Latvian Martins Sesks fell behind Rovanperä by 1.7 seconds.
“It was quite okay, definitely not so easy when you’re over the threshold and have some hards on the car. I could’ve done a bit of a better job, but that’s what we did now, so quite okay,” Rovanperä said.
“I can tell I have done a good stage because whenever I come in (Molly) is smiling! It was okay, still I made a few mistakes, but it was quite clean. Kalle has done these stages well,” Sesks summed up.
Third in the race is Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, who is 13.9 seconds behind teammate Rovanperä. Hyundai’s Ott Tänak is in fourth place.
“The feeling is quite good, but I know the others are coming faster from behind. The road is getting cleaner all the time. I’ll try my best,” Ogier noted.
In fifth place is Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, only 2.9 seconds behind Tänak. Behind Katsuta is M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux, just 1.6 seconds away.
Esapekka Lappi has not found the right pace with his Hyundai. Lappi is in eighth place, nearly a minute behind the leader.
Leading the WRC2 class is Skoda’s Oliver Solberg.
One more special stage will be driven on Friday in Rally Latvia. The competition ends on Sunday.
Rally Latvia standings after SS7/20
| POS | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | 57:14.1 |
| 2. | Martins Sesks | Ford | +8.9 |
| 3. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +13.9 |
| 4. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +26.8 |
| 5. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +29.7 |
| 6. | Adrien Fourmaux | Ford | +31.3 |
| 7. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +38.2 |
| 8. | Esapekka Lappi | Hyundai | +58.7 |
| 9. | Greigoire Munster | Ford | +1:04.6 |
| 10. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +1:09.9 |
| 11. | Oliver Solberg | Skoda | +2:48.7 |
| 12. | Mikko Heikkilä | Toyota | +3:19.0 |
| 13. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +3:30.6 |
Rally Latvia Itinerary (CET)
Thursday 18.7. 06:31 Shakedown: Cimdenieki (3.58 km) 19:05 SS1: Bikernieki Track (11.13 km) Friday 19.7. 09:00 SS2: Milzkalne 1 (4.99 km) 09:45 SS3: Tukums 1 (27.56 km) 11:00 SS4: Andumi (17.86 km) 12:50 Tyre fitting zone 13:30 SS5: Milzkalne 2 (4.99 km) 14:15 SS6: Tukums 2 (27.56 km) 15:30 SS7: Strazde (17.44 km) 16:20 SS8: Talsi (20.52 km) Saturday 20.7. 07:20 SS9: Pilskalns (18.87 km) 08:35 SS10: Snepele (17.52 km) 10:30 SS11: Ivande (23.04 km) 12:05 SS12: Vecpils 1 (12.64 km) 13:30 Service (40 min) 15:15 SS13: Podnieki (10.09 km) 16:05 SS14: Vecpils 2 (12.64 km) 18:00 SS15: Dinsdurbe (6.64 km) 19:15 SS16: Liepaja City Stage (2.56 km) Sunday 21.7. 07:55 SS17: Krogzemji 1 (18.70 km) 09:05 SS18: Mazilmaja 1 (13.34 km) 10:55 SS19: Krogzemji 2 (18.70 km) 13:15 SS20: Mazilmaja 2 (13.34 km) *Power Stage
