![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Rovanpera, who’s only managed one podium in the first four rounds of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship, enters Sunday’s short closing leg 57.5s ahead of Hyundai Motorsport’s Dani Sordo. “But, yes, a good day for me, so let’s see how tomorrow goes.” “My headphones broke on the last stage of the day, so we were lucky it was here and not in the forest!” he quipped. Even a loss of intercom - and pace notes from co-driver Jonne Halttunen - before the day’s short final stage couldn’t put the 22-year-old Finn off his stride. He delivered further blows when the classic roads of Vieira do Minho and Amarante were repeated in the afternoon, widening the gap further in rough and dusty conditions more reminiscent of Safari Rally Kenya than Portugal. Rovanpera launched his attack from the morning’s first stage, more than quadrupling his lead before the mid-leg service halt. What started as a modest overnight lead of 10.7s was transformed into a mighty advantage of almost one minute by the end of the leg on the penultimate day. Unyielding and unstoppable, the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver (above) unleashed an onslaught of raw speed as he romped to fastest times on five of the day’s seven grueling gravel special stages. Just four stages stand between reigning WRC champ Kalle Rovanpera and his first win of 2023 after the Finn obliterated his rivals on Rally Portugal’s Saturday leg. ![]()
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