WRC 2
Korhonen holds steady as Finnish WRC2 domination continues in Sweden
Roope Korhonen produced a flawless Saturday at Rally Sweden to hold off the fleet of his chasing compatriots.
Beginning the day with a 10.2sec gap over the vastly experienced Teemu Suninen, Korhonen consolidated his lead throughout the day’s seven tests, providing him with a 16.6sec buffer going into Sunday’s final three stages.
Along the way, the 2024 WRC3 champion picked up another four stage wins in his Toyota Yaris GR Rally2 to have his hands firmly secured on the FORUM8 WRC2 Most Stage Wins award.
Teemu Suninen remained steadfast in his WRC return
© At World
Whilst Suninen, in his first WRC2 outing in a Yaris and first time with Janni Hussi on the pace notes, was not able to challenge his fellow Finn on Saturday, there was still the upside of extending the gap to third-placed Lauri Joona to 31.2sec.
“I will do my best,” expressed the 32-year-old following the day’s action. “I am happy with the performance. There are of course some tenths of seconds here and there. With that break [from the sport], it is not easy to get back in.”
Lauri Joona in Saturday action at Rally Sweden
© At World
Joona, the best-placed of the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 competitors, spent Saturday trying to hold Finnish teen sensation Tuukka Kauppinen at bay. 19-year-old Kauppinen, already in his second WRC2 season, has never previously recorded a top-10 finish but now enters Sunday withing touching point of a maiden podium, just 21.6sec down on Joona.
On his WRC2 debut, Australian Taylor Gill continued to impress on the relatively foreign snow and ice stages. Despite being nearly a minute down on Kauppinen, the Yaris pilot completed Saturday 42.9sec ahead of local hopeful Isak Reiersen who rounded out the top six.
