Kalle Rovanperä retired from Rally Finland while leading comfortably, hitting a loose stone with only about ten special stage kilometres left to run. Moments earlier, his teammate Elfyn Evans had also retired due to an accident.
Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier took the victory, but the top result slipped away from the team based in Jyväskylä. Hyundai ultimately scored 19 more points than Toyota in Central Finland, extending their lead in the manufacturers’ championship to 20 points.
Team chairman and Toyota Motor Corporation board chairman Akio Toyoda congratulated Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais on their victory, while also expressing his regret over the fate of Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen.
“Despite achieving so many victories, there was one thing they hadn’t yet been able to accomplish. It was to win in front of their home fans. I believe both of them approached Rally Finland with a strong determination of ‘this year, for sure.’ It was truly heartbreaking for them to retire after leading until the final day,” Toyoda said in a team statement.
Another Finnish driver also competed in Toyota’s top-class car last weekend. Sami Pajari performed impressively in Toyota’s Rally1 car, despite it being his debut in the WRC’s premier class.
Pajari and co-driver Enni Mälkönen didn’t leave Toyoda unmoved either.
“Sami and Enni finished in fourth place in their first rally in the top category. Considering the difficulties many drivers faced on the roads of Finland, it is an impressive result,” Toyoda praised.
Pajari has been competing in the WRC2 class this season with Toyota’s Rally2 car. Pajari and Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala are the only ones who have competed in both the Rally1 and Rally2 cars in WRC special stages.
Thus, Toyoda expressed a wish to the Finns.
“I haven’t had the chance to meet Sami yet, but when I get the chance, I would like him to tell me various things about Rally1 and Rally2, along with Jari-Matti,” Toyoda said.
Team boss Latvala drove Toyota’s Rally2 car in Rally Finland and finished a commendable second in the WRC2 class.
