WRC Rally Finland Ends in Heartbreak for Toyota Gazoo Racing
(Motorsport Monday, August 5th, 2024) – The 2024 WRC Secto Rally Finland was a rollercoaster of emotions for Toyota Gazoo Racing, with the team enduring a nightmare Sunday that saw their hopes for victory slip away in dramatic fashion.
Heading into the final day, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen had established a comfortable three-quarter minute lead, putting them on course for a dominant win on home soil. However, their dreams were shattered in stage 19 when a massive rock on the racing line sent their Yaris WRC car into a huge roll, leaving the double world champion as a mere passenger.
“It’s hard to smile right now. A win in Finland is always nice but that is not the way we like to have it. Very sorry for Kalle and Jonne, amazing pace all weekend.”
- Sebastian Ogier, race winner
Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin also fell victim to the treacherous conditions, crashing out on the same stage after their GR Yaris slid wide and clipped a tree.
In the end, it was the unlikely pairing of Sebastian Ogier and Vincent Landais who emerged victorious, taking the win 11 years after their last triumph at the WRC’s fastest rally. Ogier, a part-season driver, was clearly emotional about the unexpected result.
Despite the heartbreak, Thierry Neuville managed to capitalize on the misfortunes of his rivals, finishing second and further extending his lead in the championship standings. Adrien Fourmaux secured his fourth podium of the season, while Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen claimed their first top-tier stage win on their Rally1 debut, ending the event in fourth overall.
The WRC Secto Rally Finland once again proved to be a true test of man and machine, with only four Rally1 cars making it through the grueling 20 stages. Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson’s WRC2 victory saw them finish fifth overall, while Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Jari-Matti Latvala and Juho Hänninen, in a one-off outing with a GR Yaris Rally2, claimed second place.
The 2024 WRC season continues to deliver high drama and unexpected twists, leaving fans and teams alike eagerly anticipating the next chapter.
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