We are about two weeks away from the 2023 running of Rally Estonia, so why not take a look back to when it joined the WRC in 2020.
Day One
Esapekka Lappi (FIN) and Janne Ferm (FIN) of team Ford Fiesta WRC M-Sport Ford WRT are seen racing during day 3 at the World Rally Championship Estonia in Tartu, Estonia on September 6, 2020 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
The first day of the rally would see drivers compete on a single 1.28km SuperSpecial stage. Esapekka Lappi and Sebastien Ogier would tie for the stage win, beating Ott Tänak by 0.1 seconds. Craig Breen would finish the stage fourth fastest, 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Elfyn Evans would round out the top five, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Breen.
Day Two
Ott Tanak (EST) and Martin Jarveoja (EST) of team Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT are seen racing during day 2 at the World Rally Championship Estonia in Tartu, Estonia on September 5, 2020 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Day two of the 2020 running of Rally Estonia would see drivers race 147.18km across 10 stages. Ott Tänak would win three of those 10 stages to take the rally lead heading into the third and final day. Craig Breen, Kalle Rovanperä and Sebastien Ogier would each take two stage wins. With Thierry Neuville only taking one stage win. Tänak would lead the rally by 11.7 seconds over Craig Breen after the second day. Sebastien Ogier would sit third, 17 seconds behind Breen.
Day Three
Ott Tanak (EST) and Martin Jarveoja (EST) of team Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT are seen racing during day 3 at the World Rally Championship Estonia in Tartu, Estonia on September 6, 2020 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
The third and final day of the 2020 running of Rally Estonia would see drivers race 84.96km across 6 stages. Kalle Rovanperä would win three of those six stages on the day. Sebastien Ogier would win two stages and Elfyn Evans would win one. One of Rovanperä’s stage wins would come on the Powerstage, which would award him 5 extra points from the event. Although Ott Tänak wouldn’t take a stage win on the third and final day he would still take the rally win at his home event. Tänak would finish the rally with a 22.2 second lead over Craig Breen. Sebastien Ogier would finish third overall, 4.7 seconds slower than Breen.
Penalty For Rovanperä
Kalle Rovanpera (FIN) and Jonne Halttunen (FIN) of team Toyota Yaris WRC Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT are seen racing during day 2 at the World Rally Championship Estonia in Tartu, Estonia on September 5, 2020 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Kalle Rovanperä would have a strong 2020 Rally Estonia. Unfortunately he would receive a 1 minute penalty for illegally removing the radiator backing plate. If Rovanperä didn’t receive the penalty he would’ve finished second at the event, 18.7 seconds slower than Tänak and 3.5 seconds faster than Craig Breen.
Rally Estonia 2020 Retirements
Thierry Neuville (BEL) and Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL) of team Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT are seen racing during day 3 at the World Rally Championship Estonia in Tartu, Estonia on September 6, 2020 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Thierry Neuville would retire from the event on SS17 due to an electrical issue. Pierre-Louis Loubet retired on SS13 due to a steering issue, this event would be his top-level debut. Takamoto Katsuta would also retire on SS13, due to a roll.