Sébastien Ogier secured a surprising victory at Secto Rally Finland after his Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT team-mate Kalle Rovanperä crashed out on the penultimate stage of the event while leading the race.
Rovanperä had been dominating round nine of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship for most of the four-day gravel rally and seemed poised to break Finland’s seven-year drought for a home winner with a 45.8s lead going into the penultimate stage. However, his hopes were dashed when he hit a rogue rock, causing his GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid to veer off course and roll, ending his rally. Fortunately, Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen escaped uninjured.
The same stage saw more drama as Rovanperä’s team-mate, Elfyn Evans, also went off the road while chasing Super Sunday points to make up for a broken driveshaft on Friday.
Ogier, making his first appearance in Finland since 2021, took advantage of the situation alongside co-driver Vincent Landais and claimed his 61st WRC victory, finishing 40.1s ahead of Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid driver Thierry Neuville. Adrien Fourmaux, driving a Ford Puma Rally1 for M-Sport Ford, secured third place 34.0s behind.
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