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Kalle Rovanpera dominates as Sebastien Ogier survives late scare at Rally Latvia

Kalle Rovanpera won his 200th WRC stage to extend his lead at Rally Latvia, while team-mate Sebastien Ogier narrowly avoided disaster.

Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera claimed his 200th stage win in the World Rally Championship (WRC) by racing through Rally Latvia with masterful precision.

On Saturday morning, Rovanpea significantly extended his lead, marking a milestone in his already illustrious career.

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The Finnish driver showed his skills on the challenging gravel tracks and took a lead of 34.8 seconds.

Sebastien Ogier, Rovanpera’s team-mate at Toyota Gazoo Racing, suffered a nail-biting moment but managed to hold on to a strong position after a spectacular recovery.

Despite the setback, Ogier showed remarkable resilience and narrowly managed to hold on to second place as the rally progressed.

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During the morning session, Rovanpera was in great form, winning three of the four stages, including the historic Pilskalns stage, which gave him his 200th victory.

“That’s pretty cool. If I had known (milestone was close) I would have been faster,” said Rovanpera.

Ogier, eight-time world champion, had a tough time on the gravel paths.

During stage 11, the French driver found himself on two wheels with his GR Yaris Rally1 after a daring manoeuvre.


Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Miraculously, Ogier managed to regain control, a testament to his enduring skill and experience.

“It was a tough 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 such as Hyundai’s Ott Tanak and M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux were also in the battle.

Tanak made good progress, climbing from sixth to fourth place, while Fourmaux struggled to match his pace from the previous day.

The roads of Latvia proved to offer a great balance with a mix of fast sections and tricky chicanes that pushed the drivers to their limits.

Road cleaning played a crucial role, especially during the morning’s first test in Pilskalns, which resulted in variable stage times due to the changing conditions.

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