The World Rally Championship is entering a crucial phase with Rally Portugal kicking off a series of seven consecutive gravel rallies.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans leads the championship by 43 points over teammate Kalle Rovanpera, while Thierry Neuville of Hyundai trails by 50 points as they head into the fifth round.
The upcoming gravel events will play a key role in deciding this season’s title race, following the asphalt rallies in Monte Carlo, Sweden, Kenya, and the Canary Islands.
One major question is whether Rovanpera can carry his Canarias asphalt success onto gravel, after a dominant victory in the Canary Islands showcased his potential resurgence in the championship.
Despite challenges like adapting to new Hankook tires and road cleaning in Portugal, Rovanpera remains optimistic about his chances on gravel and is working hard with the team to find his optimal performance level on the challenging surface.
