For most, being third overall after the opening leg of Rally Chile might seem like a solid position. But for reigning World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä, his 10.1-second gap to the lead feels like a struggle rather than success.
Rovanperä’s frustration was palpable as he reflected on a difficult Friday that saw him unable to find the flow he typically thrives on. “It’s me!” he admitted bluntly when asked about the source of his troubles. “I should be better.”
A Challenging Day on Unforgiving Stages
Despite the podium position, Rovanperä’s driving has been far from smooth. The setup and his usual driving style just haven’t clicked with the Chilean terrain. “I just feel that I’m not really driving to the full potential of the car and myself,” he explained. “The driving style you need on these stages is completely opposite of what I normally do on gravel, so it’s not easy to adapt.”
Chile’s roads don’t favor Rovanperä’s natural instincts. The narrow, high-grip line demands a more precise, front-end-focused approach, quite different from Rovanperä’s preferred late apex, slightly sideways style. “Now you just need to go front-end first and follow the line,” he lamented. “It doesn’t really feel like I can be much quicker like that.”
Saturday Brings Hope for Better Pace
Despite his struggles, Rovanperä remains optimistic about turning things around on Saturday. The characteristics of the upcoming stages differ from Friday’s, potentially allowing the Finnish driver to regain his usual confidence and pace.
“Last year, I think we had a better feeling in tomorrow’s area, so it’s still going to be a tricky tire choice,” he noted. “Morning is really cold, a lot of tire wear still, what tires to use and everything, so it will be a tricky day, but I hope we can have at least a better feeling and better pace.”
A Comeback in the Making?
With just 10.1 seconds separating him from leader Ott Tänak, Rovanperä is far from out of contention for his 15th WRC victory. Despite the day’s difficulties, the champion hasn’t lost his fighting spirit.
“It’s not too bad considering how I felt the whole day,” he said, reflecting on his mixed emotions. “I’m not happy basically at any point. But it’s not so bad, so yeah, of course we try to fight back as best as we can.”
Rovanperä’s resilience and adaptability will be tested as he looks to overcome the challenges that have hampered him so far. With Saturday’s stages offering a potential turnaround, the fight for victory in Rally Chile is far from over.
