AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Kalle Rovanperä Struggles to Find Grip and Pace at Monte Carlo Rally: A Champion in Uncharted Territory

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
January 25, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Kalle Rovanperä Struggles to Find Grip and Pace at Monte Carlo Rally: A Champion in Uncharted Territory

Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) Jonne Halttunen (FIN) Of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Monte-Carlo in Gap, France on 22,January. 2025 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202501220827 // Usage for editorial use only //

Kalle Rovanperä, the two-time WRC champion known for his blistering speed and natural talent, has encountered a rare stumbling block at this year’s Monte Carlo Rally. Despite flashes of brilliance, including a fastest stage time on icy roads Friday morning, the Finnish driver finds himself adrift in fourth overall, unable to match the pace of former teammates Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans, as well as Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux.

A Tire Trouble Story: Slicks Hold Rovanperä Back
Rovanperä’s struggles have a clear culprit—his inability to adapt to Hankook’s soft compound tires on dry Tarmac. Having tested in full snow conditions ahead of the rally, the Finn is finding the transition to dry roads particularly challenging.

“It seems that now it’s quite clear when we can put some snow or studded tires under the car, it seems to work much better,” Rovanperä admitted. “When there are slicks under the car, the balance and the feeling go much more difficult. I think the slick just doesn’t work for my driving style so well yet. I need to change something.”

The problem, he explained, lies in how the soft tires handle the load during cornering and braking—a mismatch with his natural driving instincts.

“I think it’s just how much you can load and what kind of load you can do with the tire, like combining the corners and braking. It’s different amounts and different places that you can do it,” Rovanperä said. “So I think that’s the thing.”

Missed Development Opportunities
Part of the issue stems from limited development in dry Tarmac conditions. Rovanperä candidly noted that his pre-rally preparation didn’t include enough running on dry surfaces with the soft tires, leaving him and the Toyota Gazoo Racing team scrambling to adapt.

“We need to try to compensate with the car as much as we can,” he said. “And then I just need to try to learn to drive differently, because I think my natural driving style doesn’t work with this tire so well.”

Avoiding Drama Amidst Chaos
While Rovanperä is battling setup and style adjustments, he has managed to avoid the costly errors that have plagued other championship-caliber drivers. Thierry Neuville shockingly went off at the same corner twice on different runs, while Ott Tänak’s Hyundai lost its trunk after a wild excursion through a ditch and into a telegraph pole. Even the frontrunners weren’t immune to missteps—Ogier went wide into a ditch, and Evans suffered a half-spin.

Rovanperä, however, joked that his clean runs might come down to being “too slow.”

The Path Forward: Adapting to Dry Conditions
With drier conditions expected for Saturday, Rovanperä knows he must unlock more pace on the soft tires to stay competitive. The challenge lies not only in understanding the tire dynamics but also in fundamentally shifting his driving style mid-rally—no small feat for even the most adaptable drivers.

“I hope [I can be faster] because tomorrow seems to be a bit drier,” Rovanperä said, cautiously optimistic. “I know where the issue is, but I don’t know how to change it at the moment.”

The Champion’s Dilemma
Rovanperä’s candid reflections underscore the complexity of adapting to new tire dynamics and the relentless learning curve of rally driving. While he may be struggling to find his rhythm at Monte Carlo, his ability to diagnose the problem and his willingness to evolve could prove pivotal as the season progresses.

For now, the reigning champion is focused on learning from the challenge, knowing that even the best drivers face moments when raw talent alone isn’t enough.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

NASCAR faces icy showdown: emergency preparations ignite ahead of epic Bowman Gray weekend
Motorsports

NASCAR faces icy showdown: emergency preparations ignite ahead of epic Bowman Gray weekend

Winter's Wrath: NASCAR Faces Icy Challenge as Bowman Gray Prepares for Clash As the countdown to the NASCAR Clash at...

by Carl Smith
January 26, 2026
Security lockdown at F1’s secret 2026 test sparks outrage: fans and media shut out!
Motorsports

Security lockdown at F1’s secret 2026 test sparks outrage: fans and media shut out!

Unprecedented Security Measures Surround F1's Highly Anticipated 2026 Test in Barcelona In a stunning display of security, the first Formula...

by Publisher
January 26, 2026
Red Bull unveils stunning 2026 F1 car as Barcelona test ignites racing excitement
Motorsports

Red Bull unveils stunning 2026 F1 car as Barcelona test ignites racing excitement

Red Bull Unveils the RB22: The Future of Formula 1 Racing Ignites in Barcelona! In a thrilling announcement that has...

by James Taylor
January 26, 2026
Danica Patrick fires back at Kyle Petty’s brutal criticism: is she more than a marketing machine?
Motorsports

Danica Patrick fires back at Kyle Petty’s brutal criticism: is she more than a marketing machine?

Danica Patrick: A Marketing Dynamo or Just Another Driver? The Controversy with Kyle Petty Unleashed! In the high-octane world of...

by Redação
January 26, 2026

Recent News

NASCAR faces icy showdown: emergency preparations ignite ahead of epic Bowman Gray weekend

NASCAR faces icy showdown: emergency preparations ignite ahead of epic Bowman Gray weekend

January 26, 2026
Security lockdown at F1’s secret 2026 test sparks outrage: fans and media shut out!

Security lockdown at F1’s secret 2026 test sparks outrage: fans and media shut out!

January 26, 2026
Red Bull unveils stunning 2026 F1 car as Barcelona test ignites racing excitement

Red Bull unveils stunning 2026 F1 car as Barcelona test ignites racing excitement

January 26, 2026
Danica Patrick fires back at Kyle Petty’s brutal criticism: is she more than a marketing machine?

Danica Patrick fires back at Kyle Petty’s brutal criticism: is she more than a marketing machine?

January 26, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

MSports Play Icon
MSports Play
The New streaming service
Download
×
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.