The reigning world rally champion won all nine of the day’s levels held on Estonia’s quick gravel roads, to open up a 34.9s lead over Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville heading into Sunday.
It’s the first time the 22-year-old manufacturing facility Toyota pilot has achieved the feat of 9 consecutive stage wins in his WRC profession.
Rovanpera was by no means actually threatened by his rivals all through the day as he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen breezed by means of 102.61 of aggressive stage kilometres.
“I’ve not finished that [win nine stages in a row] earlier than, for positive,” Rovanpera advised Autosport.
“It isn’t the principle level although, the principle level is that it got here fairly simply. I used to be having fun with the driving so much we simply had our personal tempo.
Requested what it feels likes when success is coming simply, he replied: “It’s stress-free and also you don’t must stress about something. You possibly can simply waft and you recognize all of the levels, you recognize your tempo and you’ll simply benefit from the driving.”
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: Toyota Racing
Rovanpera has brazenly admitted that Rally Estonia is his favorite on the calendar which has been mirrored by the Finn claiming his maiden prime flight WRC win in 2021, adopted by a triumph final 12 months.
Nonetheless, whereas Rovanpera is clearly snug in these circumstances, Toyota boss Jari-Matti Latvala believes there may be extra behind his driver’s success.
“It’s a while in the past positively [since someone won nine stages in a day],” Latvala advised Autosport/Motorsport.com.” He has been extraordinarily sturdy.
“I used to be out within the levels watching myself and you would clearly see that he was extra assured with the grip stage than anybody else. He was capable of brake later and use extra of the street than the others.
“I feel it’s coming from partly that he’s a world champion, and his feeling towards this rally. It’s like his house rally. He loves this situation and I feel these circumstances are simpler for him than Rally Finland.”