Rovanpera defends a 46 -point advantage in the Sardinia Rally

Finn’s successful march Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris GR) at the 2022 World Rally Championship will be tested again between Thursday and Sunday in Italy-Sardinia, the fifth round of which came firmly installed in the lead and had a 46 point advantage after winning the last three consecutive races.

The World Cup is looking for someone capable of quitting Rovanperä21 years old and since finishing fourth at the Montecarlo Rally, the inaugural test, consecutive wins in Sweden, Croatia and Portugal.

He led by at least 46 points in the second classified, the Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20)and at 68 and 69 to third and fourth, the Japanese Katsuta Takamoto (Toyota Yaris GR) and the Estonian Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20).

The Italy-Sardinia Rally will be the second appointment of another contender for victory, Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20), which was third in the first race, in Portugal. On the dirty roads of Sardinia, the Spaniard will try to achieve his third victory, after those achieved in 2019 and 2020.

In his fourteenth stint on the island of Italy, Sordo will try to take advantage of his late position on the starting list for the first day stages. He will do it from sixth place.

“The Italy-Sardinia Rally has always been a very good event for me. I was comfortable there. I like both the stages and the island, ”said the Puente San Miguel rider, who missed the first three trials of the season.

“Last year we weren’t very lucky because I made a little mistake and we got out, but last year was good and I hope it will be the same this year,” he said on the World Cup website.

Deaf added that “the rally has very narrow tracks, and the outside line can also be slipperywow, so you have to be smart and careful to stay in line. If you cross the line, you’ll hit rocks. “

The rally, based in Alghero, will start on Thursday with a short 3.23km super special stage.

Each Friday and Saturday there will be eight sections and on Sunday, four to close out the race.