In his early twenties Kalle Rovanpera is already knocking on the doors of Olympus. Having become the youngest driver to win a World Championship event in July in Estonia, he is now one step away from scoring victory in the Acropolis Rally. The young Finn launched a relentless attack on the first four stages of the day to separate himself from Ott Tanak and Sebastien Ogier, and only three stages and 69 kilometers remain in the final stage to be crowned for the second time. Dani Sordo remains fourth, in no man’s land, far from third and with the fifth very far apart.
Rovanpera went to the second stage with two champions, Tanak and Ogier, glued to their backs less than four seconds away. And, far from being daunted, he drew his claw and attacked mercilessly to win the first four stages of the day and separate in an almost definitive way. In the afternoon he preferred to manage the advantage that, if nothing happens, should allow him to reach the highest step of the podium without problems for the second time in his life.
Despite the fact that Ogier has preferred to secure the podium by having his two main pursuers in the World Cup, Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville off the hook, Tanak has given time and they will go out to the final stage separated by a sigh. Sordo has not managed to get close to them and as he does not have danger from behind, he has preferred to secure his fourth place and save important points for the brand championship. “We have not taken risks,” he explained. “Has no sense”.
Classification
1. Rovanpera-Halttunen (Fin / Toyota), 2h 36m 52.8s
2. Tanak-Jarveoja (Est / Hyundai), at 30.8
3. Ogier-Ingrassia (Fra / Toyota), at 40.2
4. Sordo-Carrera (Esp / Hyundai), at 2: 09.4
5. Fourmaux-Jamoul (Fra / Ford), at 3: 19.2