The reigning world rally champion benefitted from a smart tyre call to grab an early lead as Latvia makes its WRC debut
Kalle Rovanpera kicked off the World Rally Championship’s first visit to Latvia in style by claiming an early lead after winning Thursday night’s super special stage with a blistering time. The reigning world champion, who started his rally career in the Baltic nation, mastered a challenging 11.13km two-lap run through an asphalt and gravel test utilising the Biķernieki circuit in Riga that has previously hosted the World Rallycross Championship.
But the eight-time world champion, deemed fit to compete after a recce crash ruled him out of Poland last month, felt he didn’t drive “perfectly”. Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images Home hero Martins Sesks delivered a fast and committed run, driving a hybrid-powered Ford Puma for the first time, to finish 0.5s adrift of Neuville and Ogier in front of his supporters.
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