After a slow start to 2023, Rovanpera returned with a bang to launch his championship defence in style. We look at the pivotal moments of Rally Portugal, the first of seven consecutive gravel WRC events.
While Kalle Rovanpera refused to call his Rally Portugal performance the best of his career to date, it should rank among the finest. On Portugal's mix of rough and fast gravel stages, Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen rekindled the magic that saw them dominate the 2022 season.
It seems absurd that the Finn had been absent from the WRC podium since finishing second at the January season opener in Monte Carlo. An even more remarkable statistic is that last weekend's win was his first for seven months, since he became the youngest ever champion after winning Rally New Zealand last October.
"Everything was like it should be with the car, so we were back on the game and pushing on. You always miss the feeling when you are not there, and it is nice to be back." Portugal has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Hyundai's Dani Sordo, who had scored six podiums on its stages prior to last weekend. It came as no surprise that the Spaniard was a podium contender. Sordo, who turned 40 leading into the weekend, delivered his best performance behind the wheel of a Rally1 car to date to finish second, scoring three stage wins. Although benefiting from a strong road position, Sordo was the fastest Hyundai driver through the majority of the rally.
"The last 24 hours have been stressful," said Greensmith."On the second stage of the final loop the steering became very heavy and on the second corner it locked and we were in the bank. From that point onwards we had assistance, but then at certain points it would stop. "The sport can be so much more and so much bigger for fans and that is what I believe. I just do what I enjoy in life and I try to bring joy to other people. I got that inspiration from Ken [Block]. I don't regret anything I did, but clearly it was a mistake."On a weekend where Toyota, M-Sport-Ford and Hyundai all encountered issues, Toksport delivered a clean sweep of the WRC2 podium for the second time this season.
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