How Rovanpera grabbed the Rally Sweden spotlight after the Loeb vs Ogier show

If there were any lingering concerns that a World Rally Championship without Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier would lack any sparkle, then a pulsating Swedish event firmly put those doubts to bed. The WRC’s new hybrid era kicked off with a blockbuster on the Monte Carlo Rally, thanks to Loeb versus Ogier providing a hard act for the championship’s new guard to follow on what would be the first round since Rally GB 2006 without at least one of the Sebastiens.

But follow it did. Kalle Rovanpera emerged from a thrilling battle for Rally Sweden, which at its mid-point included a top four split by 3.2s, to claim a third career win. The Finn once again highlighted his case to become the WRC’s new-generation poster boy. He was in his element on the Swedish snow to win six of the 17 stages and produce a masterclass that had shades of Loeb and Ogier, given the 21-year-old Toyota star was victorious despite opening the road. It’s a trick that the semi-retired greats have become world leaders at pulling off.