Gravel Notes Podcast: WRC Rally New Zealand Review
WRC returned for the Repco Rally New Zealand after a ten-year hiatus to see a new world champion crowned.
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
Kalle Rovanperä could have settled for a cautious points finish to secure his first title, but instead delivered his trademark 'maximum attack' on the wet and muddy gravel roads around Auckland.
Rovanperä also takes the title of being the youngest world champion in the history of WRC taking that benchmark from the late Colin McRae.
The penultimate day of the event saw Rovanperä celebrate his 22nd birthday and, just 24 hours later, bring home his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 car home for a spectacular powerstage victory.
Tom Howard joins Martyn Lee on the podcast to review the weekend and look at how 'King Kalle' brought the championship back to Finland for the first time in 20 years.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
WEC Imola: Ye fastest to lead Ferrari 1-2 in practice
F1 teams and Pirelli had no warning of “painted” Shanghai track surface
Sainz will have to "survive with what we have" in F1 China sprint
F1 Chinese GP sprint race and qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more
How Rovanpera showed his class above his WRC rivals in Kenya
How a new 'old' challenge is capturing the spirit of British rallying lore
How Lappi survived Swedish snow carnage to snap his lengthy WRC drought
The new WRC highs Neuville reached to defeat Monte master Ogier
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments