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Kalle Rovanpera won his 200th WRC stage extending his lead in Rally Latvia while teammate Sebastien Ogier narrowly avoided disaster.
Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera notched his 200th career World Rally Championship (WRC) stage win powering through Rally Latvia with masterful precision.
On Saturday morning, Rovanpea expanded his lead significantly, marking a milestone in his already illustrious career.
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The Finnish driver showcased his skills on the challenging gravel tracks pulling ahead with an overall lead of 34.8 seconds.
Sebastien Ogier, Rovanpera's teammate at Toyota Gazoo Racing, encountered a heart-stopping moment but managed to cling to a strong position after a spectacular recovery.
Despite the setback, Ogier displayed remarkable resilience narrowly holding onto second place as the rally progressed.
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Throughout the morning sessions Rovanpera was in formidable form, claiming victory in three out of four stages, including the historic Pilskalns stage, which brought up his 200th win.
“That's quite cool. If I would have known that [milestone was close] I would've been faster,” said Rovanpera.
Ogier, an eight-time world champion, faced a tough challenge on the gravel-filled tracks.
During stage 11, the French driver's GR Yaris Rally1 was momentarily up on two wheels after a daring maneuver.
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Miraculously, Ogier managed to regain control, a testament to his enduring skill and experience.
“It was a tricky moment, but we survived. These are the challenges that push you to the limit,” Ogier commented after the stage.
The rally was not just about the top two as other competitors, like Hyundai’s Ott Tanak and M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux, were also in the fray.
Tanak made significant gains, moving up from sixth to fourth, while Fourmaux struggled to replicate his previous day's pace.
The roads of Latvia proved to be a great equalizer with their mix of fast sections and tricky chicanes that tested the drivers to their limits.
Road cleaning played a crucial role especially in the morning's first test at Pilskalns contributing to fluctuating stage times as conditions changed.
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