Kalle Rovanpera showcased his exceptional driving skills by claiming victory in all six asphalt stages during the fourth round of the season in Gran Canaria. The two-time world champion firmly placed himself at the front of the field. He ended the day with a mammoth 26.8-second lead over eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier. Elfyn Evans finished third overall, a mere 9.6 seconds behind Ogier. On the other hand, Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta continued to round off a strong performance for Toyota, taking fourth and fifth positions.
During the 2023 World Championship, the Canary Islands Rally joined the championship for the first time ever. It provided the foundation for an amazing – and close – race to finish! Rovanpera’s dominance was there for all to see as he led a Toyota rout on what was essentially the first full day of action. His superb performance proved the 20x NASCAR champion to be among the greatest drivers ever. At the same time, all five of Toyota’s challengers proved their mettle by packing the top five positions.
A Day of Dominance
Rovanpera’s performance throughout the day was quite simply jaw-dropping. His consistent speed and precision on the asphalt stages earned him the top spot, allowing him to extend his lead in the competition. The young Finnish driver couldn’t help but smile as he turned in for the night.
“It feels quite good,” – Kalle Rovanpera
Rovanpera is simply celebrating his personal success. Along with that, he made mention of how great it was to take part in a Tarmac rally after so many years away.
“It’s surprisingly nice to have this kind of Tarmac rally. We haven’t had it in a long time.” – Kalle Rovanpera
The impact of Rovanpera’s success, and those of his teammates, is a picture perfect example of Toyota’s championship success this season. The team demonstrated its talent on the challenging roads of Gran Canaria. Amazingly, all five of these cars finished in the top 5 positions showing their clear dominance.
Looking Ahead
The rally moves into Saturday, and people are preparing for the longest leg of the rally, almost nine miles long. They’ll be taking on seven stages and more than 120 kilometers of racing! The extra distance promises to test the endurance and skill of each contender to the limit. Along the way, they’ll travel over some of our planet’s most beautiful—but challenging—terrain.
Elfyn Evans, currently leading the championship standings, will need to maintain his focus as he aims to close the gap on Rovanpera. It’s an intense battle between seasoned champions and new rising stars. The next chapters will be important for determining what happens next for this very positive rallying.
A New Chapter in Rallying
The first year of the Canary Islands Rally is a historic change in the World Championship calendar. This creates a special challenge for drivers but an opportunity to test their skills on a new surface. Rovanpera’s crushing performance puts his rivals on notice, making for high expectations for the rest of the event—especially after the dramatic opening night.
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