Rovanpera grabs last stage to edge Tanak in Croatia rally

Kalle Rovanpera gained the very last degree of the Rally of Croatia on Sunday to retake first area from Ott Tanak after a game of tyre poker within the closing ranges.

The Finn led after every of the primary 18 ranges but changed into caught out through a downpour inside the penultimate level, finishing nearly 30 seconds in the back of Tanak.

The Estonian, who had gambled on moist tyres on his Hyundai, won the stage and took the overall lead through 1.4sec.

“I didn’t know where this weather came from,” said Toyota’s Rovanpera. “We had no idea there was going to be rain.”

He struck back in the final stage, winning by 5.6sec from Tanak, second.

“I was sure we could not be so fast with these tyres, but it’s amazing,” Rovanpera said at the finish.

“We pushed really hard and I think we deserve it this weekend. For sure, it was the toughest win of my career.”

Tanak, who went last, was not able to match the Finn.

“I didn’t take any risks, but Kalle obviously did a good drive,” said Tanak. “We were fighting for the win, but only because of clever decisions and tyre choices.”

Another Hyundai driver, Belgian Thierry Neuville was third despite ending a weekend plagued by problems by crashing at the finish of the final stage and limping across the line with two punctures.

“At the end, I got caught under braking with the hard tyres and we just went straight on. Luckily we got away with it,” Neuville said.