Teemu Suninen isn't backing down. Fresh from clinching the European Rally Championship (ERC) title, the Finn has set his sights on the WRC2 crown. He will enter next month's Rally Sardinia to challenge Robert Virves in what promises to be a thrilling title fight. It's a clear statement: Suninen is not giving up without a fight.
Suninen has contested four WRC2 rounds this season in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, winning in Portugal and finishing second in Sweden, Estonia, and Finland. That consistency has kept him in contention, even as Virves has stolen the spotlight.
Virves, piloting a Toksport Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, has won four of his five starts. He is currently competing in Rally Chile. If he wins there, he'll accumulate 125 points – only Suninen can better that, with a maximum of 126. The odds are long, but Suninen is ready to roll the dice.
Co-driver Shuffle
For Rally Sardinia, Suninen will be co-driven by Antti Haapala, with whom he won the ERC title. Janni Hussi, his previous co-driver, has now committed to Toyota junior Jaspar Vaher. The change ensures Suninen has a trusted navigator for his title assault.
Meanwhile, Andreas Mikkelsen returns for his first start since Acropolis Rally Greece in June. His presence adds further depth to the WRC2 field. Italian WRC3 champion Matteo Fontana will also make his WRC2 debut in a Toyota.
Rally1 Shake-up
In the top-tier Rally1 class, eleven cars will compete. Martins Sesks rejoins M-Sport Ford's lineup. As expected, two-time Sardinia winner Dani Sordo will drive the third Hyundai, but he'll be co-driven by Patricia Saiz instead of Candido Carrera – a WRC debut for Saiz.
With such a strong entry list, Rally Sardinia is shaping up to be a classic. Suninen needs a flawless weekend to keep his hopes alive, while Virves will aim to extend his advantage. All eyes will be on the dusty Sardinian stages, where the WRC2 title could be decided.
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