WRC2
Virves holds firm in rain-hit Finland WRC2 battle
Robert Virves kept his bid for a fourth WRC2 victory from as many starts this season firmly on course by mastering Friday’s wildly changing conditions at Secto Rally Finland.
As in Estonia a fortnight ago, the fight for the top step developed into a shootout between the Estonian and Finnish crews in the 27-strong field. Just 9.7sec covered the leading five at midday service, when Roope Korhonen held a slender 0.6sec advantage over Teemu Suninen.
The afternoon’s sporadic downpours then turned the contest into a lottery, with crews’ fortunes largely determined by when they encountered the heaviest rain.
The decisive swing came on Saarikas 2. Korhonen and Suninen, both driving Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars, finished well adrift of the benchmark set by Tuukka Kauppinen. Virves had started the test third, 4.0sec behind Suninen, but emerged with an 8.2sec lead over Korhonen, while Suninen dropped to third, 27.6sec from the pace.
Roope Korhonen was flying on his home rally
© At World
The former FIA Junior WRC champion completed the day in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with a 13.5sec advantage over Korhonen and 40.8sec in hand over Suninen.
Patrick Enok, whose Finland appearance is supported financially by WRC Promoter, briefly moved ahead of Suninen during the afternoon loop. However, a slow run on Friday’s closing Harju city stage cost the young Estonian third place, allowing Suninen back ahead by just 1.1sec.
Teemu Suninen flew at home on Friday
© At World
Lauri Joona surged from eighth at midday to fifth overnight aboard his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. His charge was highlighted by victory on Sydänmaa 2, where he edged Virves by 0.2sec, and he ended the day 4.3sec clear of Jyväskylä-based Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Programme driver Yuki Yamamoto.
Jaspar Vaher placed seventh, 12.8sec behind fellow Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Programme driver Yamamoto. The young Estonian produced a measured performance in his GR Yaris Rally2 following his major accident on home soil two weeks ago.
Mikko Heikkilä was another driver heavily affected by the rain. The Finn had been just 0.6sec from the lead after SS4, but lost 46.2sec on Laukaa 2 and eventually completed the day in eighth.
Romet Jürgenson, driving a Ford Fiesta Rally2, and Italy’s Giovanni Trentin rounded out the top 10, with Trentin finishing a further 31.2sec behind.
Friday’s biggest casualty was former WRC2 champion Emil Lindholm. The Finn led the category after three stages but rolled 3.8km into SS4, ending his day prematurely.
