Kalle Rovanperä has written his name in the history of the Canary Islands Rally in the first edition of this scoring test for the World Rallies Championship (WRC). At the controls of a Toyota G Yaris Rally1, the 24 -year -old Finn, was imposed in 15 of the 18 timed sections, achieving an incontestable victory with 53.5 seconds of advantage over Sébastien Ogier.
The hug between Kalle Rovanperä and his father at the end of the second pass of the Maspalomas section is loaded with meaning. From an early age, Kalle wanted to follow his father’s path and with eight years he occupied covers worldwide for his skill at the wheel. The hug encompasses everything lived by both in a car. A family moment in which time looks years ago and focuses on the blurred image of a father who felt a similar emotion on the same island, only 25 years before.
Rovanperä greets after sweeping the Canary Islands Rally.
Harri won the champions race in Telde
Little Kalle had just celebrated his first birthday, when his father Harri lifted the Cup in the 14th edition of the Champions race that was held in the Circuit of the Canary Islands Sports City, in Telde. A historic test that brought together the best pilots in the world in direct duels. Harri Rovanperä won Armin Schwarz in the final. A championship in which, in addition to the stature of Marcus Grönholm, a young man participating in the engine world and responded to the name Fernando Alonso. Gran Canaria is again, 25 years later, a Rovanperä Champion.