WRC2
Suninen penalty hands Virves WRC2 victory in Finland
A 30-second time penalty cost Teemu Suninen WRC2 victory at Secto Rally Finland, leaving Robert Virves to celebrate his fourth win from as many starts in the category this season.
Suninen appeared firmly on course for victory when he went 4.6sec quicker than Virves on Sunday morning’s opening pass through Himos–Jämsä, extending his lead to 7.7sec.
However, a stewards’ decision issued ahead of the Wolf Power Stage revealed that Suninen had been handed a 30sec penalty. The Finn and co-driver Janni Hussi were the first competing crew to arrive at the scene after Patrick Enok rolled off the road on SS11 on Saturday morning, but did not stop.
The decision resulted in a subdued celebration for Virves, whose focus had switched to securing second place after a tyre issue aboard his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on Saturday’s penultimate stage dropped him out of the lead.
“A very strange feeling. I do not know what to say,” admitted Virves at the end of the Wolf Power Stage.
“It has been a very long weekend, with a lot of drama for everyone. We struggled a lot and the others had issues, but I am very happy to be here. Even if it ended this way, I have to take it.”
Victory moved Virves to the top of the WRC2 championship standings, 21 points clear of Roope Korhonen, whose rally ended with a roll on Saturday while he was fighting at the front.
Suninen moved into third position after recording one victory and three runner-up finishes from his four starts so far this season.
A 30sec penalty cost Teemu Suninen WRC2 victory
© At World
Lauri Joona rounded out the podium with his second top-three finish of the campaign. The Finn faced sustained pressure from Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Programme driver Jaspar Vaher, who reduced the gap to 2.3sec before the Wolf Power Stage.
Vaher was unable to complete the comeback on the final test, however, and settled for fourth, just 1.4sec behind Joona.
Romet Jürgenson completed the top five aboard his Ford Fiesta Rally2, recording his best result of the season and finishing more than 35sec clear of fellow Fiesta driver Mille Johansson.
Lauri Joona picked up his second podium of the season
© At World
There was also a season-best result for Italian youngster Giovanni Trentin, who guided his Fabia to seventh. He finished more than one minute ahead of Léo Rossel, who continued to get to grips with the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale he switched to ahead of EKO Acropolis Rally Greece.
Toyota drivers Takumi Matsushita and Taylor Gill completed the top 10, with Gill carrying a 50sec penalty after checking out of service five minutes late on Friday.
