Rovanperä in historic bow

Former World Rally Championship contender Harri Rovanperä made his historic rallying debut when he contested the Tour of Flanders in an Opel Ascona.

Rovanperä tackled the Belgian asphalt event at the invitation of the Ascona’s owner, Stephen Vankemmel, and finished in the top 10 after two days of action. “I was learning on the first stages and went quite slowly,” said the Finn. “After that I had a really good feeling with the car. I did not test it and the roads there are very difficult. But we were just there to have fun.”

Rovanperä found the transition from WRC machinery took some adjustment. “It was quite difficult with only rear-wheel drive after 16 years with four-wheel drive,” he said. “I missed the centre and front diff very much. This was my first time in historic rallying and I hope I can do some more.”