How Rally Finland produced a rollercoaster of emotions to match its roads
A long-awaited home World Rally Championship victory for Kalle Rovanpera seemed almost assured last weekend, right up until the moment the Toyota driver rolled into the trees on the penultimate stage. A tough, weather-affected event produced plenty of drama and a surprise winner, who now has an outside chance of mounting a title assault
At last it seemed that Finnish rally fans would finally receive what they had craved so much. Not since 2015 has there been a home winner of Rally Finland. But still the wait goes on.
Kalle Rovanpera had dominated the stages and tamed changeable weather on what was one of the most demanding editions of the event on record. But once again, he was cruelly denied. This time, penultimate stage heartbreak allowed fellow Toyota part-timer Sebastien Ogier to steal the spoils and mount an unlikely World Rally Championship title push.
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