ROVANPERA PROUD TO MAKE WRC HISTORY

“Of course I feel very happy and proud as it has been a long break since Finland has a world champion,” said Kalle Rovanpera after taking over the mantle of youngest World Rally champion from Colin Mcrae, who won the title in 1995 at the age of 27. It was also the first WRC crown for Finland since Marcus Gronholm secured the second of his titles, coincidently in New Zealand in 2002.

“I’m really proud of the team, myself and [co-driver] Jonne [Halttunen],” added the 22-year-old Toyota driver. “I don’t have enough time to thank everybody, but Jonne is making a big difference to the job also.

“I have never been a big fan about records regarding what age I have done something. But of course taking the record from Colin Mcrae is quite special, he was a special and quite spectacular driver.”

Rovanpera is the seventh Finn to become World Rally champion following in the footsteps of Ari Vatanen (1981),

Hannu Mikkola (1983), Timo Salonen

(1985), Juha Kankkunen (1986-87, 1991, 1993), Tommi Makinen (1996-1999) and Gronholm (2000, 2002).

The feat wasn’t lost on an emotional Toyota team boss and fellow Finn Jari-matti Latvala, who was WRC runner-up in 2010, 2014 and 2015. “It’s really important what Kalle has done,” said Latvala. “First of all, it’s amazing for a 22-year-old to be breaking all the records and taking the championship title. At the same time, it is so important for Finland because it has been 20 years and that’s a very long time.

“Myself and Mikko Hirvonen were so close but we couldn’t take the title – there were two Sebastiens [Loeb and Ogier] and one [Ott] Tanak, so I am so grateful that Kalle did it. It is amazing. I have no words – he is a superhero.

“From time to time you need these champions to keep the interest up and that also helps get the younger people into the sport and all the levels. Not only for Kalle, I think it will be a really important championship for Finland.”