Kalle Rovanperä Secto Rally Finland performance on Saturday was nothing short of commanding. The Finnish ace steered Toyota Gazoo Racing to a remarkable 1-2-3-4-5 sweep, ending the day with a 36.1-second lead and one step away from a long-awaited home victory.
The day’s drama began in the morning when Rovanperä suffered a front-right tyre deflation on Päijälä. He still reached service with a 14.7-second lead over Thierry Neuville, who was closely followed by Adrien Fourmaux. But the afternoon’s repeat of Västilä turned the rally on its head.
Hyundai’s Heartbreak Shakes the Standings
In a cruel twist, both Neuville and Fourmaux were hit by identical front-right tyre failures on the same stage. The incident dropped them from podium contention to sixth and seventh, handing Toyota complete control.
Rovanperä kept his pace steady but sharp, avoiding unnecessary risks while preparing mentally for Sunday’s legendary Ouninpohja stages. “I still wanted to go fast so that I have the feeling for tomorrow,” he said, knowing that last year’s penultimate stage crash still lingers in memory.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Dominates
Behind Rovanperä, Takamoto Katsuta moved into second place, eyeing his best result since Rally Sweden. However, Sébastien Ogier is only 6.8 seconds back in third, with Elfyn Evans just 1.5 seconds further behind. Sami Pajari’s strong showing sealed Toyota’s top-five lockout.
Evans is on course to reclaim the championship lead as Ott Tänak, hampered by a penalty and far down the order, targets only Super Sunday and Wolf Power Stage points.
Power and Performance in Finland
Rovanperä’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 blends 500+ horsepower with hybrid torque for instant acceleration on Finland’s gravel. Its balance and suspension tuning allow high-speed stability, crucial for the flat-out forest stages. Even with the morning’s puncture, the car’s performance helped secure his commanding gap.
The Battle Ahead on Ouninpohja
Sunday’s finale will run through Ouninpohja twice, a stage feared and revered for its massive jumps and high-speed crests. With Katsuta, Ogier, and Evans still close behind, Rovanperä must combine pace with precision to claim his first home win.
Summary
Rovanperä’s lead and Toyota’s clean sweep set the stage for a thrilling conclusion in Finland. One perfect day remains between him and a dream victory.
Disclaimer: Rally standings and conditions are based on the end of Saturday’s stages and may change during Sunday’s competition.
Source: WRC
