Robert Virves is the first champion of the new Junior WRC model embodied in the WRC3 Junior category and with all-wheel drive ‘Rally3’ vehicles as protagonists. Perfect exercise to win at the exact moment to achieve the title.
Robert Virves has been crowned as champion of the first edition of the Junior WRC within the WRC3 category. This new concept of training category, with the name of WRC3 Junior, maintains the essence of the extinct Junior World Championship, although it is true that with the use of all-wheel drive ‘Rally3’ vehicleswhich perhaps gives it a little more complexity.
Be that as it may, Virves is the first champion of this ‘total concept’ championship after a season finale in which the Estonian has been the most skillful to survive the complexity of the Acropolis Rally. With a victory, the only one in his career in WRC3 Junior, but of double valueRobert has become the first Estonian driver to win the Junior WRC, whatever its concept, regulations and vehicle used.
Virves’ prize as winner includes four appearances in the 2023 WRC2 series in an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2
The Acropolis Rally began as a fight four for the title between Sami Pajari, Lauri Joona, Jon Armstrong and Robert Virves himself. He was not the Estonian, far from it, the favorite driver in the pools, but Virves has managed to move on the tough Greek stages to get the victory and register his name in a list of champions who have started their career with the Junior title.
It should be remembered that pilots like Sébastien Loeb, Dani Sordo, Sébastien Ogier, Martin Prokop, Craig Breen, Elfyn Evans, Stéphane Lefebvre, Nil Solans and his brother Jan or Sami Pajari himself They have managed to win the Junior World Championship over the last two decades, with most of them reaching the top of the WRC over the seasons.
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fallen rivals
It has not been an easy season for Virves, despite being on the podium three times before the Acropolis Rally. Nevertheless, in Greece the horizon was quickly clearing for the Estonian. Sami Pajari retired on Friday’s stage, while Lauri Joona lost a lot of time after damaging the rear suspension of his Ford Fiesta Rally3. Thus, there was a direct duel between Virves and Jon Armstrong.
However, the British’s opposition did not last long either, as Robert Virves closed the first stage with a lead of more than a minute over Jon Armstrong, hampered by a puncture. From then on, Virves has managed his advantage with intelligence and a certain coolness, as Robert has given up scoring points for scratches and closed the rally with a 17.5 second lead to seal the title.
Effectiveness
With a single victory and thanks to the double value of the score in Greece, Robert Virves has won the title of this WRC3 Junior with the essence of the Junior World Championship, among other things because it maintains the format and the prizes that the training category par excellence had. Yes indeed, the champion co-driver was Brian Hoypartner of Jon Armstrong, since Virves changed navigator in the middle of the year.
The prize for Virves as the winner of the championship includes four participations in the WRC2 category of the 2023 World Championship behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally2 of the M-Sport team. You will also have the opportunity to test drive the car before each of these rallies and you will receive a complete tire package courtesy of Pirelli to be able to carry out this program in the silver category of the World Cup.
Photos: Junior WRC