Rovanperä won’t dwell on Acropolis disappointment

Toyota’s 21-year-old finished last week’s Greek event down in 15th overall, bringing home just four points which he salvaged from the Wolf Power Stage. His lead at the top of the table has been cut to 53 points. 

If Rovanperä can build that advantage by eight points - or seven, if he wins the rally -  in Auckland later this month (29 September - 2 October), he will be crowned the youngest ever WRC title winner. And that’s where his thoughts are now.

“This was definitely a tough weekend,” he said. “From the start, I wasn’t having the feeling from the car – since the shakedown. It’s tough, but the good thing is that we took some points from the Power Stage and that helps.”

Rovanperä couldn’t find the confidence he needed from his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 and ended Friday’s opening leg down in ninth overall after sweeping the road. Worse was to follow when he slid off and hit a tree on Saturday’s second test.

“Running at the front on Friday and then on the final day on Sunday, the feeling was tricky. We had to push hard [in the Power Stage] to make the points which will help for the championship. 

“It wasn’t easy, but now we put this one back and we’re going to look forwards to the next event. We want to come back much stronger [in New Zealand]. For the championship, still nothing is finished.”