It’s an odd assertion on paper.
Kalle Rovanperä merely disappeared into the space on Rally Islas Canarias, not giving anybody a lot as a crumb of consolation as he ruthlessly annihilated his Rally1 rivals by profitable 15 of the 18 levels. And two of the three he missed have been brief superspecials the place he’d chosen warning over glory.
However Juha Kankkunen’s verdict on his compatriot’s win was to the purpose: “I’m not impressed,” he mentioned.
Make no mistake, Kankkunen isn’t being damaging. He’s not wanting on the three ‘missed’ stage wins and demanding perfection.
Normality had been briefly disrupted by Rovanperä’s difficult begin to the season. For Kankkunen, the common Kalle is again on the town.
“He did seven rallies final yr; he gained 4 out of them,” highlighted the four-time world champion. “He was world champion two years in the past. So he hasn’t misplaced his expertise or his driving. I used to be not shocked.
“When he finds the whole lot 100% all proper, and finds the fifth gear from the gearbox, then he’s fairly a quick boy.”
Kankkunen’s closing remark was an ominous one: “You will notice this yr,” he concluded.