ROVANPERÄ AND OGIER SCORE ANOTHER TOYOTA GAZOO RACING ONE-TWO
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team which ENDLESS is a partner of the brake parts supply has claimed a second successive one-two finish after Kalle Rovanperä stormed to victory ahead of Sébastien Ogier at the FIA World Rally Championship’s first Rally Latvia.
Returning to the high-speed gravel roads where he began his rally career as a teenager, Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen led the rally from the opening stage in Riga on Thursday night. They won 11 stages along the way – recording their 200th career fastest time on Saturday morning – as they marked their 50th start at the highest level of the WRC with their 14th victory.
Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais made an impressive return to action after being forced to miss the previous round in Poland.
With its one-two result, TGR-WRT took maximum manufacturers’ points from the overall standings plus second and third in the separate Super Sunday classification. With the Power Stage results also factored in, the team closes to within one point of the championship lead.
Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin finished fifth overall on an event where road position was a significant factor on the loose gravel stages. His fourth finish in the Super Sunday classification, has closed to within 13 points of the series leader.
Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston showed good confidence and pace from the start of the rally, holding fourth position at the end of Friday before a small overshoot on Saturday’s SS12 caused damage to the power steering system, leaving them sixth at the finish.
The next Rally Finland (August 1-4) is the fastest rally on the calendar, run over smooth gravel roads containing many jumps. It’s also a home rally for TGR-WRT, which has its headquarters close to the service park in Jyväskylä.
Please read the details on the team’s official website: