WRC legend Gronholm: Rovanpera ready to win world title

Gronholm is the most recent Finnish driver to win the WRC title, after claiming his second world crown in 2002 with the factory Peugeot operation.

Since then, the WRC has been largely dominated by Frenchmen Sebastien Loeb (2004-2012) and Sebastien Ogier (2013-2018, 2020-2021), with Norwegian Petter Solberg (2003) and Estonian Ott Tanak (2019) the only other drivers to have won championships since Gronholm's 2002 success.

After Markku Alen won the FIA Cup for Drivers in 1978, the last season before the world champion label was awarded to WRC drivers, six Finns have become world champions with Ari Vatanen (1981), Hannu Mikkola (1983), Timo Salonen (1985), Juha Kankkunen (1986-1987, 1991, 1993), Tommi Makinen (1996-1999) and Gronholm (2000, 2002) continuing the nation's prized history in the discipline.

The rise of second-generation driver Rovanpera has not gone unnoticed by Finland's rallying royalty and Gronholm believes that the Toyota driver will be favourite to win the 2022 title if he can continue his strong early season form.

Rovanpera holds a 46-point lead in the championship over Hyundai's Thierry Neuville after winning the last three WRC events in Sweden, Croatia and Portugal.

"He is very, very good," Gronholm told Autosport when asked for his thoughts on Rovanpera's recent success.

"He is ready to win the championship I think, if he continues the way he has started the season. No question.

"When he is under pressure, he is fast and incredible."

Gronholm was briefly team-mates with Rovanpera's father Harri at SEAT on the 1999 Rally Sweden, before Rovanpera Sr joined the double world champion at Peugeot for four years between 2001 and 2004.

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris