WRC (World Rally)

Rally Croatia certainly isn't letting us down!! More like Rally Wales GB of recent vintage with the stages this morning. Wet (very wet) and dense fog (could barely see anything) - Handle that messrs Hamilton Leclerc etc. Looked like K. Rovenpera had an unassailable lead until a puncture slashed his advantage from over a minute to just under 15 secs. Game on!!

The conditions are creating a lot of issues throughout the field, with T Neuville in a position where - if he had no bad luck - he would have no luck of any kind at all. One stage left today after two were cancelled!

You have to love this great brand of motorsport!

Rovenpera ultimately came through to win, after throwing the dice with his tyre choice on the Power stage! People were talking of a dead heat at one point, but Kalle went down the risk/reward route, and it paid off. What a rally we had Next up Portugal

Ott Tanak has broken a lengthy period without a win by triumphing in Italy at rally Serdinia, with Craig Breen securing runner up spot. Kalle Rovenpera continues to dominate the championship standings by a comfortable margin. Half the seaon left, but Kalle could well win the world crown well before the end of the campaign if he wins the next 2 or 3 events I think!

The unstoppable juggernaut does it again, and by over a minute!! Ridiculous just how far ahead of the rest Kalle Rovanpera is. Not content with the winners podium, he blasted through the final power stage to pick up extra points in conditions that could have meant he not only threw away the winners position, but his entire rally! Phenomenal drive.....phenomenal young man!!

2021 World Champion Ott Tanak got back on the podium top spot at the grand prix of rallying in Finland! The title has most likely gone for this year, but at least he showed that he is still up for the fight.

Rally Ypres starts in the morning for another round of the world championship! Home experience has already shown what a difference it makes with Thierry Neuville fastest in shakedown, from 'champion elect' Kalle Rovenpera! Should actually use shakedown as qualifying. I don't understand why they don't!!

Nasty crash for Kalle Rovanpera on stage 4 on the rally that could have given him the championship. Strange one too it looked to me. A misplaced pace note to blame!

Ott Tanak went back - to - back by winning in Belgium. After his victory at the 'Rally GP' in Finland, Tanak drove a steady race to edge Elfyn Evans by 7 seconds or so.

The Championship is still just alive after Rovenpera had a difficult weekend. Still miles in front though, and should only be delaying the inevitable. This rally though, like most of them, unpredictable to the last.

Another event where K Rovenpera failed to take another step towards closing out the championship. T Neuville took the win with Tanak second, and Danni Sordo - a participant now and again these days, completing the podium 1 2 3. Tough weekend for everyone on the Acropolis, and the title still waiting to be claimed!

Rovenpera did pick up 4 points on the power stage, despite not being able to complete every stage mile. I think they need to look at this as it can't be right that a competitor has an issue - either through a mistake, or mechanical issue - which means he misses some stages as I highlighted above, but still walks away with valuable points.

ROVANPERA - WORLD CHAMPION!!!!

Congrats go to Kalle for winning his first title in New Zealand!! It should be said that his closest opposition were small in number thanks to a lack of Teams and Drivers, but they those are there, represent the highest standards of skill in the sport, and he whipped them. You can't say fairer than that!!