With only two World Rally Championship rounds remaining after this week’s Rally Chile, it is possible for Kalle Rovanperä to clinch his second consecutive world title this weekend.
Possible, but in all probability relatively unlikely. So just how can Rovanperä become a two-time world champion on Sunday afternoon?
Going in to the event, Rovanperä holds a 33-point lead over Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and M-Sport driver Ott Tänak in theory also remain in contention, some 66 and 81 points down respectively. But the likelihood is that Neuville and Tänak will both be mathematically eliminated from the running this weekend.
Rovanperä needs to extend his advantage over Evans to 60 points to be crowned world champion on Sunday. If he does that, Evans would still be able to match Rovanperä’s points total (but not better it) but Rovanperä would have countback in his favor in the event of a tie.
So Rovanperä needs to outscore Evans by 27 points. If he does that, Neuville and Tänak will automatically be eliminated, so we’ll focus now on just the two Toyota drivers.
In simple terms, Rovanperä must win and score some powerstage points, and Evans must have a disastrous weekend for the drivers’ championship to be settled before the crews head to the new Central European Rally next month.
In more detail, Rovanperä will be crowned world champion if:
• He wins the rally, wins the powerstage and Evans scores no more than three points
• He wins the rally, is second on the powerstage and Evans scores no more than two points
• He wins the rally, is third on the powerstage and Evans score no more than one point
• He wins the rally, is fourth on the powerstage and Evans scores no points
The championship will remain alive if:
• Rovanperä does not win the rally
• Rovanperä is not at least fourth on the powerstage
• Evans finishes eighth or better
• Evans is second or better on the powerstage
