The organizers of the New Zealand Rally at the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) have announced that the GR Racing Team has won first and second places in the race.
The organizers of theNew Zealand Rally explained that the driver, Kali Rovanbera, became the youngest winner ever in the history of the championship, having completed 22 years just a day before this remarkable victory achieved with his assistant Uni Haltonen, after the duo put in another outstanding performance aboard the Toyota GR Yaris Raleigh 1 electric vehicle "69".
Calle Rovanbeira won the historic title in his third season only by competing in rally races at the highest level, although he is more than five years younger than former record holder Colin McRae. During the first year that new regulations were put in place for Rally 1 hybrid electric vehicles, Rovanbera served as the reference driver for the organizers of this World Rally Championship, and his victory in the New Zealand Rally was his sixth of the season with only two rounds left, having topped the championship since winning the second round at the Rally Sweden in February.
During the 2022 competition in 2022, super speed was one of the highlights of his performance, despite the difficult weather conditions that accompanied the races. This factor was also key to winning the New Zealand Rally; after finishing the second day of the rally in fourth place, he shone on the third day amid heavy rain, leading his rivals by almost half a minute.
The fourth and final day saw more rain, but driver Callie Rovanbeira managed to maintain his lead in the final Power Stage. The team only needed to win one of the top four places to secure two more points and win the championship. However, driver Callie Rovanbeira scored the fastest time, the seventh time he has topped the final Power Stage this season.