2024-02-15 06:32:00
Monte-Carlo on the balcony, Rally Sweden in action. After following the launch of the WRC season from the windows of his Monaco residence, Kalle Rovanperä comes out of hibernation to launch his season.
Organized since 2022 in the Umea region, a stone’s throw from the Arctic Circle, the Rally Sweden will benefit from beautiful winter conditions this week, since the “mold” (from -20 ° C on Monday to -5 ° C expected this Thursday evening on the first special) should be accompanied by nice snowfall at the start of the weekend. The ideal scenario for Rovanperä, who would then benefit from a good track in the powder thanks to the distant starting position allocated to the intermittents of the show.
Because like Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb in recent years, the double world champion has opted this year for a partial program, just to recharge his batteries. A decision that is challenging for a 23-year-old boy.
“He started driving rally cars at the age of 8 and by starting so early he missed out on things in life but he is still old enough to enjoy them and he will still be young enough to come back full-time and stack the titles,” Ogier commented during this surprise announcement in November. “It’s surprising, either he doesn’t realize that he has the chance to be paid to live his dream, or he just wants to drink beers in a sauna by a lake like every Finn in the world. his age,” smiles Loeb.
“I want to take advantage of this to try new things”
Rather discreet about his personal life on social networks, Rovanperä is undoubtedly using this new free time wisely. But like any driving enthusiast, he will also take the opportunity to discover new horizons behind the wheel, again like what Loeb and Ogier did in their time. Rather than opting for one of the many series that Toyota is involved in, the Finn decided to take part in four of the six rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux. And as one refuses nothing to a champion of his caliber, his employer supported him in his desire.
“I’ve been wanting to see what I’m worth on the circuit for a long time, so I can’t wait to face this field made up of young drivers and others with more experience, with the desire to do well because I’m a competitor. », comments Rovanperä, who however does not imagine any reconversion in the short term.
“I am completely focused on rallying for the years to come, but this season is a bit special and I want to take advantage of it to test new things,” he assures. But being beaten on his favorite terrain is certainly not on the list of experiments on the double world champion’s program this weekend.
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