Toyota won the Finland Rally by playing “at home” in the ninth of the 14 WRC matches, returning to the race for the world title.
Rovanper, a native of the city of Gyvas, where the legendary event takes place, won his first victory in front of his home country by defeating two other Toyota drivers: Japanese Takamoto Katsouta and French Sebastian Ozier.
Taking advantage of Hyundai’s failures, the Japanese manufacturer had his own five places, with British Elfin Evans finishing fourth, in front of Finnish Sami Pacari. The World Champion (2022, 2023) Robantera, who scored 35 points this weekend by winning Power Stage and Super Sunday, won the 17th victory of his career at the age of 24 (second this year) and raised his second place.
Ozier, who had recorded three wins and two second places in five games this season, secured another place on the podium and stayed back at 13 points by Evans. The champion of the championship, Hyundai, headed to Finland with just one point difference from Evans, but had a nightmare weekend and finished 10th.
The current World Champion Belgian Hyundai took sixth place, seeing his chances of maintaining his crown to decline, while the Frenchman Andrien (Hyundai) was forced to withdraw during the final stage.
The top ten of the overall rally of the Finland Rally and the ratings on the drivers and manufacturers of the WRC are as follows:
1. Call Robanper (Finland/Toyota) 2or.21: 51.4
2. Takamoto Katsouta (Japan/Toyota) + 39.2
3. Sebastian Ozie (France/Toyota) + 45.1
4. Elfin Evans (UK/Toyota) + 48.1
5. Sami Pacari (Finland/Toyota) + 1: 18.8
6. Tieri Neville (Belgium/Hyundai) + 2: 01.5
7. Joshua Mackerlin (Ireland/Ford) + 4: 07.4
8. Martins Sesks (Latvia/Ford) + 5: 17.2
9. Greguar Minster (Luxembourg/Ford) + 5: 24.9
10.
GUIDE RATE
1. Elfin Evans (UK/Toyota) 176 points
2. Call Robanper (Finland/Toyota) 173
3. Sebastian Ozie (France/Toyota) 163
4.
5. Tieri Neville (Belgium/Hyundai) 125
6. Takamoto Katsouta (Japan/Toyota) 87
7. Adrian Fourm (France/Hyundai) 71
8. Oliver Solberg (Sweden/Toyota) 52
9. Sami Pacari (Finland/Toyota) 58
10. Grego Minster (Luxembourg/Ford) 21
11. Joshua Mackerlin (Ireland/Ford) 20
12. Martins Sesks (Latvia/Ford) 16
13. Gus Greensmith (UK/Skoda) 14
14. Joan Rossel (France/Citroen) 12
15. Nikolai Griazin (Bulgaria/Skoda) 7
16. Jean Solans (Spain/Toyota) 6
17. Iordanis Serderides (GREECE/FORD) 4
18.
19. Alejandro Katson (Spain/Toyota) 3
20. Fabrisio Saldivar (Paraguay/Skoda) 2
21. Roberto Dapra (Italy/Skoda) 2
22. Rape Corchonen (Finland/Toyota) 1
23. Erik Kami (France/Hyundai) 1
24. Diogo Salvi (Portugal/Ford) 0
25. Lauri Yona (Finland/Skoda) 0
26. Lorenzo Bertelli (Italy/Toyota) 0
Manufacturers
1. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 444 points
2. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 366
3. M-Sport Ford WRT 129
4. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 85
SA – EIA