Finnish rally driver Kalle Rovanpera will be seeking to clinch his third World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally title in Kenya, as he lines up among 33 top drivers in a thrilling three-day run-out this weekend.
Rovanpera, 24, won the Safari Rally title back in 2022 and then clinched his second crown last year in a thrilling finale. He follows up in the footsteps of some great Fins who have enjoyed stellar success in the Kenyan rally, considered one of the most difficult WRC legs in the world.
Among great Finnish drivers who have succeeded to wade their cars through the tough terrains of Kenya to win the Safari include the legendary Tapio Laukkanen, Tomi Makkinen who won it twice, Juha Kankkunen who is a three-time champion, Ari Vattanen and Hannu Mikkola who each have one title.
It is these great footsteps that Rovanpera wants to follow, and try to equal Kankkunen who won it three times.
One of the fastest rising stars in global motorsports, Rovanpera has won 15 of the 74 rallies he has participated in, and has been on the podium a whooping 25 times, all with his Toyota Gazoo Racing Team (GRT).
This season, he hasn’t had the best of starts but believes the Safari Rally can bring a bit of good fortune. He finished fourth in the opening Rally of Monte Carlo, and was a disappointing fifth in Sweden last month.
As he looks to put his campaign squarely on track, he speaks exclusively to Telecomasia.net and outlines his love for the Safari Rally, which he describes as the toughest in the circuit.
- You are back in Kenya, a place you have won twice in a row. How does it feel to come back to a familiar hunting ground?
- Honestly, it is always great to come back here. This is one of the rallies in the season where you look forward to because it is a great challenge, not just for me but Toyota as a team as well. The people here are also always great and welcoming so it always feels nice and refreshing to be here every time.
- You won it last year for the second time, and now you are back. Are we seeing you go for a third Safari title?
- I have won it two times already and of course I want to try and go for the third. But it is not easy. This is one of the most difficult rallies in the world and it is not easy to win. But I am here, optimistic of giving my best and trying to win again. It is a challenge that I love to take and I am looking forward to a very exciting weekend.
- Would you say maybe it is your most favorite rally or most challenging?
- Yeah, in a way I can say it is one of my favorites because I love challenges. But definitely for many, it is not a favorite to drive on because of the tough terrain and the challenge it poses to the cars. But overall, the experience is really good and it makes it a great place for me to come always.
- What exactly makes this rally difficult and interesting?
- The conditions are really tough. You never know whether to expect the rains or dry and rocky roads so every year it is a different kind of challenge. You always need to approach it very carefully and take good care of your car. This is more like an adventure for any rally driver. There is so much unpredictability and that is what makes it interesting and difficult.
- You have had a taste of the route for this year’s event after the shakedown. What is your primary feeling heading into the weekend?
- It looks really good to be fair. I felt the roads, saw the scenery and I know it is going to be a good one. However, the route looks tougher this year. Also, looking at the weather and the possibility of rain makes it even more adventurous. But, it is tougher and rougher than ever before. So it is going to be a really hectic one but I am ready for it.
- With this in mind and definitely the experience from the last three years, are you looking to change anything in terms of how you approach it?
- Maybe I will tweak things just a little but I will try stay consistent and take care of the car well to avoid troubles.
- In terms of competition, what is your expectation?
- Definitely huge competition will be there. If you look at the first three rallies of the season it has been very close and this will be not different. I expect competition not just from my teammates at Toyota but others as well.
- Toyota has dominated the Safari Rally for so many years and has won all the titles since 2021. What makes Toyota different?
- I don’t know really but what I know we are a very strong team. We are strong guys on the road and we are resilient.
- Finally, with only two races down, what is your ambition for the rest of the season?
- I am just taking it a race at a time and looking to improve in every competition. Hopefully in the Safari we do better than the first two and I know we have the ability to do it. This is one of the places we have enjoyed success and hopefully, it bounces us into the season well.
