Tanak wins Rally Finland as Rovanpera increases overall lead

Tanak took a decisive lead on Friday's first stage, in which Rovanpera, winner of five rallies this year, had to clear the track as the World Rally Championship leader. The twenty-one-year-old Finn managed to partially close the gap in the following days, but fell short of his first win on his home rally.

"It was a good weekend. Obviously I would have liked to win at home, but considering we opened the track on Friday it was pretty good. We fought hard and got pretty close, so I think we can be proud," said Rovanpera.

Tanak followed up his 2018, 2019 triumphs in Finland. With his second win of the season after Sardinia in June, he moved up to second in the standings by a point ahead of teammate Thierry Neuville of Belgium, who finished fifth.

"The Toyota guys gave me hope on Friday and we sniffed a chance. From then on, we drove hard," said Tanak, who secured the Hyundai team's first victory in Finland and won the 16th World Rally of his career.

See all the results from Rally Finland

Rovanpera has now increased his lead in the World Championship to 94 points and is heading for the title with a commanding lead. There are only five events left in the season and a maximum of 30 points can be scored in any one event.

Third place in the rally was defended by Esapekka Lappi with a heroic performance on the final power stage. The Finnish driver went over the roof of his Yaris in the penultimate stage and damaged the car. He had to drive the last 11 measured kilometres without the windscreen and part of the roof and protected himself from the wind with ski goggles. Even so, he held off another Toyota driver, defending champion Elfyn Evans of Britain, by 17 seconds.

The championship continues in two weeks' time with the asphalt Ypres Rally in Belgium.