There’s no doubt that Kalle Rovanperä has put up a sterling defense of his 2022 World Rally Championship title.
After a somewhat steady start, only bagging a single podium in the opening four rounds, the Finn has hit his stride, delivering wins, consistent points finishes (Rally Finland aside) and searing pace which it seems he can deploy anytime he choses – something which has proven particularly handy for snatching powerstage points.
While Elfyn Evans has certainly had a strong season of his own, bouncing back from a winless 2022, it’s Rovanperä who has emerged in the leading role as the rallies have unfolded and the story of the season has been written.
He’s just got that little bit of an edge.
Specifically a 31-point edge, meaning Evans needs to outscore him at this weekend’s Central European Rally if he’s to have any shot at the title come November’s season finale in Japan.
But if Evans can take the title down to the wire, there’s one key area where he might just have his own edge over Rovanperä.
Because when it comes to title showdowns, this wouldn’t be the Welshman’s first rodeo. In fact, remarkably, it would be the third title showdown in four years for the Toyota driver.
Evans battled Sébastien Ogier, who has never lost a title decider, for the 2020 and 2021 WRC drivers’ titles at the season-ending Monza Rally, leading the Frenchman by 14-points heading into the former and trailing him by 17-points prior to the latter.
A trip down a bank after an icy corner put paid to Evans’ title dreams in 2020, while he was simply beaten in a straight fight one year later.
But as he prepares to fight his younger team-mate for the title, Evans noted the similarities between this year and the 2021 season in particular.
“In 2021, when we were fighting against Séb [Ogier], we had a massive deficit heading into Finland,” said Evans. “But then it gradually came down over the last few rounds. [So it was] in some ways a bit similar [to this year].
“But of course, it didn’t turn out so well that year.”
Although Rovanperä is already a world champion and Evans has missed out twice, the lessons learned from these final-round fights give him a crucial experience advantage over Rovanperä when it comes to dealing with the extreme pressures of a title-decider.
Of course, Rovanperä is no stranger to pressure either. He deals with it from the world’s best drivers on every WRC round, but he’s never been in title contention as the season reaches its crescendo. When he won his championship last year, he had it wrapped up essentially by the spring.
The Finn admits the challenge of this year’s points battle with Evans has certainly upped the ante.
“It’s the second time I’m fighting for the title, and now this time it’s with a team-mate and it’s also much closer with the points,” said Rovanperä. “So definitely there is more pressure and a more intense feeling for the last two rounds.
“It should be a good fight.”
But what does the pressure of a last round championship fight actually mean? And why might an experienced hand have an advantage over a first timer?
Well, firstly there’s the build-up. The three week gap between this year’s Central European Rally and Rally Japan will feel like an age, and provide ample opportunity for questions from the media and fans alike.
‘Do you think you can take the title?’ ‘How are you feeling?’ ‘What is the plan, will you go flat out or play it safe?’
It’s a feeding frenzy, but Elfyn has been there before. Kalle hasn’t.
It's these kinds of questions that Evans is used to answering when everything is on the line. Rovanperä hasn’t had to
Then, when it’s finally time to take to the stages, what is the plan? Can you forget the pressure and push on, maximum attack, knowing that if you make a single mistake, just one tiny slip, then it might be game over? No more rallies to gain the points back, and months ahead to sit and contemplate what might have been.
Or will you back-off, manage the risk, and keep the car on the road at all costs even though your rival might disappear into the distance?
And what about the things you can’t control? Can you handle a sudden downpour when you’re already at your wits end? What about a puncture, or hybrid failure? Will you keep your cool then? This is rallying after all, where the unexpected is to be expected.
The answers to these kinds of questions can define a driver’s season, and in some cases, even how their career is remembered. And it’s these kinds of questions that Evans is used to answering in the heat of battle, when everything is on the line. Rovanperä hasn’t had to.
Yet.
So while the Finn may well have the edge on overall pace and, as it stands, championship points this year, it’s the Welshman who’s got the title showdown experience that might just play a pivotal role in deciding this year’s champion.
That’s if the battle goes all the way to Japan, of course. Let’s cross our fingers and hope that we get to find out.
