Teemu Suninen has delivered a major surprise to the WRC2 scene. After hinting earlier this season that he was unlikely to compete in the World Rally Championship again this year, the Finnish driver has now appeared on the entry list for Rally Sardinia, released last Saturday.
Suninen, who has been mainly competing in the ERC this season and clinched the title last weekend, has not closed the door on WRC2. He will contest the Sardinian gravel event with co-driver Antti Haapala in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. This decision instantly reshapes the WRC2 title fight, which had been largely dominated by Robert Virves.
A Theoretical Chance Amidst Virves' Dominance
Although his chances are slim, Suninen still has a mathematical shot at the WRC2 crown. From four rallies this season, he has taken one victory and three runner-up finishes. Meanwhile, Robert Virves has been in stunning form, claiming four wins from five points-scoring events, despite retiring from the previous round in Paraguay. The Estonian is currently competing in Rally Chile and has also entered Sardinia, even though it wasn't part of his original plan.
The WRC2 field is packed with talent. Besides Suninen and Virves, strong contenders like Roope Korhonen, Leo Rossel, Andreas Mikkelsen, Roberto Dapra, Gus Greensmith, and Emil Lindholm will also line up. Korhonen himself retains a slim theoretical chance of winning the title, making every second on the Sardinian gravel a potential game-changer.
Rally Sardinia: A New Stage for the Stars
Rally Sardinia, taking place from 1-4 October, also serves as a proving ground for manufacturer teams in the top category. Toyota sticks with its familiar five-car line-up: Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, Oliver Solberg, Takamoto Katsuta, and Sebastien Ogier. Hyundai, meanwhile, has opted for experience with Dani Sordo joining full-time drivers Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville. Notably, Patricia Saiz will co-drive for Sordo at WRC level for the first time.
M-Sport Ford is not to be outdone. They will field three cars, with Latvia's Martins Sesks joining Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong. The presence of these young drivers adds extra spice to the competition, offering a chance to shine on a notoriously tough and demanding surface.
With Suninen's entry, Rally Sardinia has become one of the most anticipated WRC2 rounds of the season. Will his comeback decision pay off, or will it prove a stumbling block for Virves' title ambitions? All will be revealed on the dusty tracks of Sardinia.
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