New Zealand rally fans will be madly searching for their WRC+ login details this Friday when the World Rally Championship – FINALLY – gets under way again.
After a six month hiatus since the Rally of Mexico in March, the title combatants will gather for the first ever Estonian round of the WRC.
It will be a first for Estonia, but also a first for the WRC. Never before will a round of the championship have been held under such strict conditions.
It means that for the first time ever, service park personnel will be as rigorously tested as the rally cars.
Face masks, temperature checks and a distinct lack of people will be situation normal during the Rally of Estonia, but you won’t find too many people complaining.
Aside from those in Europe who can’t attend the event because of COVID-19, the rest of the rally world is rejoicing at the chance to just sit back on Friday night and watch the live action on our TV or computer screens.
Spectating on the stages will be strictly controlled, but there’s nothing to stop Estonians living on the route to step outside their homes and offer a socially-distanced cheer.
Down Under, we’ll be glued to our screens well into the night and early into the following morning as we cheer on our favourite drivers.
None of the current stars is more excited that the reigning world champion, and Estonia’s national sporting hero, Ott Tanak.
“It’s a big thing for Estonia to run a WRC event. I really hope we have a home advantage and it’s most important we really use it,” the Hyundai star said.
“The target is very easy; we don’t know how long the season will be, but for sure we have to take the maximum from every event now.
“It will be a short sprint so there is no way to hold back anymore.”
The championship is currently led by (who else?) six-time champion Sebastien Ogier, the winner last time out in Mexico, and his first for Toyota.
Rally Sweden winner Elfyn Evans is second in the title race in another Toyota, but the team’s third driver, Kalle Rovanpera, is seen as a real dark horse on a brand new event where experience won’t come into play as much.
Young, brave and with nothing to lose, Rovanpera would become the youngest WRC event winner should he get onto the top step of the podium on Sunday night.
Nevertheless, the Finn isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“I have still only done three WRC rallies in this car and I still need to continue learning over the rest of the season, but this is a rally that should be good for me and I’m hoping for a good result,” he said.
Sixty entries have been received for the WRC’s much anticipated return with 11 World Rally Cars from Toyota, Hyundai and Ford.
The popular Mads Ostberg heads the field of R5 cars (now called Rally2) in a Citroen C3.
“I’m really happy to be back racing in the WRC, especially in Estonia, which a rally I have won twice before,” Ostberg said.
“I know the stages very well and have some excellent memories from here, so I can’t wait to get started. I’m determined to get a good result here and strengthen my hold on the lead in the WRC2.”
Fans wanting to catch all the action from every stage of the rally can sign up for the WRC’s exclusive subscription service, WRC+ (https://www.wrc.com/en/wrcplus/live-stream-schedule/)
The first super special stage gets underway at 4.08am on Friday afternoon (NZ time), before Leg 1 resumes on Saturday afternoon.
WRC points after 3 rounds:
1/ Sebastien Ogier, Toyota, 62 points
2/ Elfyn Evans, Toyota, 54
3/ Thierry Neuville, Hyundai, 42
4/ Kalle Rovanpera, Toyota, 40
5/ Ott Tanak, Hyundai, 38
6/ Teemu Suninen, Ford, 26
7/ Esapekka Lappi, Ford 24
Note: New Zealand’s return to the World Rally Championship should have been taking place this weekend, had it not been for Coronavirus. If only ….
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