It seemed impossible to resist the push of Toyota and its local drivers, but it has succeeded. Ott Tänak has won Rally Finland in an exercise in talent, speed and endurance. The Estonian driver thus adds his second victory with the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 in the World Championship, although this result does not change the dynamics of the championship too much. The leader Kalle Rovanperä has been secondwhile the also local Esapekka Lappi has closed the podium. Teemu Suninen wins WRC2 and Lauri Joona wins WRC3.
Ott Tänak started the day knowing what detail he has and that every tenth could make the difference between success and failure. really focused, Tänak took the scratch in SS19 after beating Kalle Rovanperä by 1.9 seconds. Thus, the Estonian pilot gave the first blow, showing that he was going to sell his very expensive skin. Behind, the rest of the pilots chose a conservative script and dedicated themselves to preserving what had already been achieved without taking risks. Without going further, Esapekka Lappi himself left 9.7 seconds at the end of the stage.
Kalle Rovanperä launched perhaps his last attack in SS20, but the leader was hit with a very solid response from Tänak. In fact, both signed the same time, as happened in one of yesterday’s stages. The scratch fell in statistical terms on the side of the Hyundai driver, so both arrived at SS21 separated by 10.3 seconds. Difference that was reduced by three tenths in the second run through ‘Oittila’, since Rovanperä took the scratch. Behind, everything remained unchanged while waiting for the Power Stage.
A Power Stage that Pierre-Louis Loubet did not reach. The M-Sport driver suffered a mechanical problem in the link, thus losing the final eighth place. In competition, Kalle Rovanperä got the scratch in the Power Stage to add five extra points to those obtained by his second position, since the triumph seemed impossible for the local hero. Elfyn Evans was second, with Craig Breen third despite signing the same record. Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville shared the last extra points by finishing fourth and fifthalso tied on time.
With this result in the Power Stage, Ott Tänak achieved his second victory with the Hyundai i20 N Rally1. A victory that has a very special flavour, perhaps more so than the one obtained in Italy due to the pressure it has had from the Toyota drivers from the first moment. In fact, Rovanperä finished 6.8 seconds behind Tänak. The Finnish one-two for Toyota on the podium at the suomi event was completed by Esapekka Lappi. Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville have closed the ‘top 5’, with Takamoto Katsuta in sixth position.
Teemu Suninen has taken the eighth final position after Gus Greensmith by the final abandonment of Pierre-Louis Loubet. Fantastic result for the Hyundai driver, as it has also served to certify his victory in the silver class. Suninen has prevailed in WRC2 with a 7.7 advantage over Emil Lindholm, in a Finnish duel in which both have shown their best version. Egon Kaur has completed the podium. Already in WRC3, the victory has been for Lauri Joona with enormous superiority.
Final classification of the 71st Rally Finland
Photos: Hyundai Motorsport / Toyota Gazoo Racing