Estonia has a new rally star following Ott Tänak’s retirement from the top-level at the end of last year, in Robert Virves, who won the second-tier WRC2 category at the weekend’s Rally Safari Kenya.
This was the Estonian’s first appearance in the World Rally Championship this season, and he also beat out several big names in the overall standings to place fifth in Kenya.
Virves, 25, and co-driver Jakko Viilola, took the lead in the Škoda Fabia on Friday afternoon and never let it go. Consistency was key here: While Virves did not win a single stage, he placed highly every single time, heading off Briton Gus Greensmith (Toyota) by 30.3 seconds and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zaldivar (Škoda) by 41.3 seconds, in the WRC2 category.
“I have to admit, it’s an amazing feeling,” Virves said post-race. “I wasn’t a big fan before, but I think we experienced the Safari rally the right way and to go through it without any problems… an unbelievable achievement for the team and everyone involved.”
This was Virves’ second win in the WRC2 category, and the first outside of his home country; his maiden victory came at Rally Estonia last year.
Read more: ERR.EE
