The team principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala, says that Kalle Rovanpera's anger and hunger were the two main factors that played their role to his recent victory at Rally de Portugal.
The reigning WRC Champion dominated in Portugal all the last weekend, as he set the fastest time in ten from 19 stages, and finished ahead of Dani Sordo with an almost one-minute gap. In addition to that, he scored the maximum points in that event due to the fact that he was the fastest driver in Powerstage, a stage that gives to the stage winner five bonus points for the championship.
The WRC community expected Rovanpera to be the dominant driver again in 2023 after his achievements in 2022, but he did not start his season as we all expected as he secured only one podium until the start of Rally de Portugal (2nd place at Rallye Monte Carlo). However, he returned back to his victorious days a week ago as it had been seven months since his last victory which came at Rally New Zealand together with the WRC crown for the first time in his career. After the end of the fifth WRC round, Rovanpera becomes the new championship leader with 98 points and is being followed by Ott Tanak who has 81 points.
"I could feel the change after Croatia when he was not on the podium, he felt actually quite angry, not being on the podium", Latvala said about Kalle Rovanpera.
"Coming here I could sense that the motivation is really, really high to get the victory now because it’s been a long time from the last win.
"So that kind of feeling, I got that now there is this big hunger for the victory, and then at the same time he was very confident with the car so this is always good news".
Source: DirtFish.com
Photo Credits: Toyota
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