A new k̶i̶d̶ ̶ champ on the block ｜Kalle Rovanperä, the youngest ever WRC Champion

Kalle Rovanperä secures record-breaking WRC title in New Zealand Finnish star makes history by becoming the youngest-ever WRC champion. Finnish wunderkind Kalle Rovanperä obliterated the FIA World Rally Championship record books after sealing a historic title with victory at Repco Rally New Zealand.* At 22 years and one day old, the Toyota Gazoo Racing driver becomes the youngest driver in the history of the sport to lift the crown - sweeping aside the record previously held by Colin McRae, who won in 1995 aged 27 years and 89 days. Rovanperä, who is co-driven by Jonne Halttunen, required seven more points than Hyundai i20 N rival Ott Tänak to seal the deal at this Auckland-based 11th round. With a hefty lead already earned on Saturday, he remained unchallenged over Sunday’s final four gravel tests and emerged from the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage having done more than enough - heading a GR Yaris 1-2 by 34.6sec ahead of eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier as a frustrated Tänak settled for third almost 50sec behind. This season - only Rovanperä’s third in the sport’s top-flight - proved to be nothing short of extraordinary. After a shaky start at the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo, the Finn romped to a hat-trick of successive wins in Sweden, Croatia and Portugal. Road-opening duties at Rally Italia Sardegna left Rovanperä down in fifth but he was soon back to winning ways, triumphing in Kenya and Estonia before further extending his advantage with second...