Two-time defending world champion Kalle Rovanpera took the Rally Latvia early lead on Thursday after the first special stage of the eighth round of the World Rally Championship in Riga.
Launching our Latvian challenge with stage victory for @KalleRovanpera in a spectacular super special! 🥇🤩#ToyotaGAZOORacing #GRYaris #WRC #RallyLatvia 🇱🇻 pic.twitter.com/16WDNGwLXH
— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) July 18, 2024
The Finn, who is only competing in certain events with Toyota this year, finished ahead of overall leader Thierry Neuville of Belgium and Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, who is also on a part-time programme with the Japanese manufacturer.
Neuville and Ogier completed the 11.3km opening special stage with the same time, 2.4 seconds behind Rovanpera on the Bikernieki circuit.
Latvian Martin Sesks (Ford M-Sport), competing in only his second rally at the elite level, was fourth coming in 2.9 seconds behind the leader.
The 24-year-old driver, who was born in Liepaja, could spring a surprise on home soil this weekend after finishing fifth in Poland.
The rally gets down to the nitty-gritty on Friday, with seven stages contested during the day, and finishes on Sunday after 20 stages.
Neuville heads the standings with 136 points, 15 clear of Welshman Elfyn Evans (Toyota) with Ott Tanak (Hyundai) lying third on 115.
STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 1
- Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (FIN/Toyota) 7:28.5,
- 2. Thierry Neuville/Martin Wydaeghe (BEL/Hyundai) at 2.4sec,
- 3. Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (FRA/Toyota) 2.4,
- 4. Martins Sesks/Renars Francis (LVA/Ford M-Sport) 2.9,
- 5. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (GBR/Toyota) 3.9