WRC Secto Rally Finland has come to a close. Elfyn Evans won the event but the true winners were the fans, but how?
Why Were Fans The True Winners?
Elfyn Evans was the driver winner for Secto Rally Finland, but the fans won in a different way. The big win for the fans is a now prolonged Driver’s’ Championship battle. As now just 25 points separate Elfyn Evans and reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä. If Rovanperä claimed the full 30 points in Finland like he was on pace too. We would’ve been spending the next month or so doing a whole lot of math to see how Rovanperä could clinch the championship at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. Now that math will have to wait for at least another round. Rovanperä will still likely win the championship. As he doesn’t make many mistakes like the one made this weekend. Nevertheless, the battle will be prolonged. Giving fans something to talk about for just that little bit longer.
Not Just A Two-Man Race
The battle for the championship isn’t a two-man race, however. As Thierry Neuville also has a decently good chance of winning his first championship. Although he will have to fight tooth and nail for it. With 36 points now separating him and Rovanperä and just 11 points between him and Evans. Neuville won EKO Acropolis Rally Greece last year. Amid a Hyundai podium sweep. Which saw Ott Tänak place second and Dani Sordo place third.
When Could The Championship Be Won?
The earliest the championship could be won under a plethora of circumstances is Rally Chile Bio Bio at the end of next month. One of the less confusing circumstances for the championship to be handed out there would be for Evans to score 0 points in Greece. Well Rovanperä takes the maximum 30 points, and Neuville scores somewhere under a top-three finish. It gets much more confusing if all three finish the event on the podium. If that were to happen the earlier the championship would be won is the new Central European Rally in October. Which will likely be when the championship is handed out anyway. But like anything the WRC is extremely unpredictable.