Kalle Rovanpera - rallying's youngest champion

Flip the scenario on its head. A top F1 driver enters a national event of the BRC for example. They set a 9th fastest stage time and finish 11th. I think we’d all conclude that they’ll never make it into a factory WRC seat.

It’s unlikely Kalle will even get enough points for a super licence. Nothing against him or his driving talent, he’s just started circuit racing way too late. I fear he’ll make rally drivers look a bit average if he enters F2, and maybe even in super formula! I think people forget about Loeb’s GP2 test where he finished last of 25 drivers.

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Originally Posted by Doon

Flip the scenario on its head. A top F1 driver enters a national event of the BRC for example. They set a 9th fastest stage time and finish 11th. I think we’d all conclude that they’ll never make it into a factory WRC seat.

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OK maybe hypothetically, but not really a useful comparison when in reality a 53 year old ex-F1 driver actually just won the BRC championship title, winning 4 rounds from 5 starts. If he was 25, we'd think a factory WRC seat could be possible for the future.

Although I agree on Kalle, never did hold much high expectations for this venture. If he's enjoying it all then good for him.

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Originally Posted by WRCStan

OK maybe hypothetically, but not really a useful comparison when in reality a 53 year old ex-F1 driver actually just won the BRC championship title, winning 4 rounds from 5 starts. If he was 25, we'd think a factory WRC seat could be possible for the future.

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This just kind of shows that F1 drivers are better than some rally fans give credit for. Kubica was another example, WRC stage wins and won WRC2 fairly easily.

Both categories have their ups and downs. Those G-forces in Formula probably are hard to take. Also they whine how hard is for them, while rallying take on icy, winter roads, hot as hell too and with events whch transforms from one extreme to completely different one. In rallying drivers and co-drivers are the ones who often fix their cars to be able to race, changing the tyres while formula drivers doesn't need to do nothing and wait (and still whine). Formula drivers gets payed in multimillions just to be there, while rally drivers need to work very hard, achieve absolutely maximum to start making money out of this sport. Of course formula drivers also have field full of other drivers while rallying is focused more on being attentive to roads ahead and time.

But one fact is quite funny. Formula drivers are often afraid being in rally car while they racing with 300kph on perfect paved circuits.

So both sport have their own challenges, shame just that WRC isn't worth more.

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Originally Posted by deephouse

But one fact is quite funny. Formula drivers are often afraid being in rally car while they racing with 300kph on perfect paved circuits.

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They're not use to working in 3D space either. But for the ups and downs of the circuit they're in 'flatland'.

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Originally Posted by deephouse

So both sport have their own challenges, shame just that WRC isn't worth more.

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Speak for yourself. ;)

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Originally Posted by Doon

This just kind of shows that F1 drivers are better than some rally fans give credit for. Kubica was another example, WRC stage wins and won WRC2 fairly easily.

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and he started being 10/15/20ish in regional rallies...

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Originally Posted by deephouse

Both categories have their ups and downs. Those G-forces in Formula probably are hard to take. Also they whine how hard is for them, while rallying take on icy, winter roads, hot as hell too and with events whch transforms from one extreme to completely different one. In rallying drivers and co-drivers are the ones who often fix their cars to be able to race, changing the tyres while formula drivers doesn't need to do nothing and wait (and still whine). Formula drivers gets payed in multimillions just to be there, while rally drivers need to work very hard, achieve absolutely maximum to start making money out of this sport. Of course formula drivers also have field full of other drivers while rallying is focused more on being attentive to roads ahead and time.

But one fact is quite funny. Formula drivers are often afraid being in rally car while they racing with 300kph on perfect paved circuits.

So both sport have their own challenges, shame just that WRC isn't worth more.

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Anthony Davidson actually said almost exactly that in commentary a few years ago on the F1. I think they were talking about Bottas when he did some rallies, and he said he would love to drive a rally car on the roads in Finland, but not with the trees, rocks, ditches and spectators so close to the road.

IMO there are much more positives than negatives for Kalle from first race weekend in single seaters - in one of the races his best lap was only three tents slower than the fastest drivers...as someone said, some drivers here as Slater and Ugochukwu has tons of experience from karting to the lower classes of single seaters and I think both are future F1 candidates... I think this was also first time for Kalle to seat in Formula Regional (in theory successor of Formula Renault) and he was most of the time in the middle pack, he was also not afraid to overtake other drivers etc.
Patience is the key :)