ADVERTISEMENT
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 //

ADVERTISEMENT

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.”

ADVERTISEMENT

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

Explosive Closing Statements Unleash $20 Million Clash: McLaren vs. IndyCar Champion Palou!
Motorsports

Explosive Closing Statements Unleash $20 Million Clash: McLaren vs. IndyCar Champion Palou!

HIGH STAKES IN COURT: McLAREN SEEKS NEARLY $20 MILLION FROM INDYCAR STAR ALEX PALOU! In a dramatic showdown that has...

by Publisher
November 5, 2025
Lando Norris Transforms Pressure Into Triumph: The ‘Super Strength’ Leading F1 2025 Championship
Motorsports

Lando Norris Transforms Pressure Into Triumph: The ‘Super Strength’ Leading F1 2025 Championship

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 27, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris...

by Harry Stone
November 5, 2025
Brazil GP Showdown: Max Verstappen and Lando Norris Ignite Dramatic Title Battle Amid Rainy Chaos!
Motorsports

Brazil GP Showdown: Max Verstappen and Lando Norris Ignite Dramatic Title Battle Amid Rainy Chaos!

Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

by Carl Harrison
November 5, 2025
Ferrari Roars Back: Will Leclerc Break Brazilian Curse Amid High-Stakes F1 Showdown?
Motorsports

Ferrari Roars Back: Will Leclerc Break Brazilian Curse Amid High-Stakes F1 Showdown?

Formula One F1 - Belgian Grand Prix - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 27, 2025 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc...

by Arthur Ling
November 5, 2025

Recent News

Honda 0 α antecipa SUV compacto elétrico a lançar em 2027

“Honda anticipates a compact electric SUV to be launched in 2027.”

November 6, 2025
Novo Bentley Supersports em série limitada: o primeiro Continental GT de tração apenas traseira

New Bentley Supersports in limited series: the first rear-wheel drive Continental GT.

November 6, 2025
Polestar 4 estreia função Live Lane Guidance do Google Maps

Polestar 4 debuts Google Maps’ Live Lane Guidance feature.

November 5, 2025
Elétricos deixam de ser prioritários na China

“Electric vehicles are no longer a priority in China.”

November 5, 2025

Newsletter

ADVERTISEMENT

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

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

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.