Nicky Grist's 2023 WRC review: 'Old head, young shoulders'

“At times, he was putting all the seasoned pros on the back foot big time really.

“He has a tremendous turn of speed, but he also a tremendous ability of keeping it together on the road. If you look back at past world champions, the likes of Juha Kankkunen or Tommi Makinen – they were not only fast, but they were also bloody reliable. They didn’t make those mistakes.”

Grist believes Rovanperä has been able to adapt to the modern nature of WRC events.

“Nowadays, the rallies are almost like sprints, where it’s all about an extreme concerted effort on every given metre of the stage to gain one or two seconds.

“You see a lot of drivers making a lot of mistakes and crashing out in really tricky conditions – whereas Kalle cruises through and picks a good pace. Quick, but one he’s comfortable at. For a very young man, he’s got a very mature head on his shoulders.”

2023 WRC rally team of the year

Toyota

In stark contrast to its painful F1 tenure in the 2000s, Toyota has enjoyed a litany of successes in both the World Endurance Championship and WRC. Its investment in these respective series, both in machinery and the drivers it chooses, has paid off – Grist says this was demonstrated again in 2023.

“They’re the gold standard,” says Grist. “Hyundai have come in with Thierry Neuville, mainly on a number of tarmac events, and have shown them a hell of a fast pace.

“But I think overall, the Toyota Yaris has been the car to go for. Money makes a difference in motor sport, and there’s no way around that unless you have a very basic spec-championship.

“In the WRC, with all the different surfaces and conditions that the cars have to drive on, a team with a big budget that’s developing new products, suspension tweaks, transmission stuff, is going to stand out amongst the crowd.

“And although Hyundai is not far away, I don’t think its consistently been at the races on all surfaces.

“Ott Tanak made all the difference for M-Sport and its Ford Puma with his two victories this year – apart from those it didn’t do much else.”

2023 moment of the year

Rally Japan

Rally Japan proved to be one of 2023’s most treacherous events with thick fog and torrential rain on super slick roads covered by wet leaves in dense forest, pushing drivers to the limit.

Thierry Neuville and Takamoto Katsuta both hit the trees early on, while an expensive car park formed at one particular ditch on Stage 2 which both Dani Sordo and M-Sport’s Adrien Formaux slid off into.

While Elfyn Evans won the rally, Grist highlights yet another assured podium for Rovanperä, summing up his season in one drive.

“When you’re as close to the limit as rally drivers are nowadays, you have to take your chances – know exactly when to apply pressure, where not to push too hard to make sure you get through,” he says.

“Ogier would do that, then suddenly push on one stage he really knew well. You’d think ‘My God, where did that one come from?’ Kalle does exactly the same.

“He has those stages where he takes 25-30sec, meaning he can pick his moments. Neuville’s had similar situations – how many off-road incidents has he had?

“The last rally in Japan was pretty special. The conditions were pretty horrendous, and even though people were flying off the road left, right and centre, Kalle just stuck with it.”

2023 WRC unsung hero of the year

Dani Sordo

With such dominant forces at the front of the WRC field in the form of Rovanperä, Seb Ogier and Neuville taking up a limited number of factory seats, it can be tricky for others to sneak into the limelight.

However, Grist highlights a seasoned veteran who still delivers almost every time he gets in his i20. He took two podiums from seven events this year, finishing in the points five times in total.

“Tanak taking the Puma to a number of victories this year was tremendous,” acknowledges Grist. “But I think if I was going to choose one person, I’d go for Dani Sordo.

“Dani does so few events a year, he can disappear for three months, and then all of a sudden he comes back and he’s challenging for victory. He generally finishes on the podium. I think if Hyundai could persuade him to do more, he would be a tremendous driver in the championship.

“Last time I saw him I said ‘Dani, why the hell don’t you do a full championship?’ The results he gets on so little events is astounding – but I think he’s happy with his lot.”

2024 WRC season tip

Elfyn Evans

Kalle Rovanperä’s announcement at the end of this season that 2024 would be a partial campaign sent shockwaves through the sport. Such a dominant driver taking a step back opens up the door for several others to finally shine after years of Sébastien Ogier dominance too. Welshman Nicky Grist believes destiny calls for his compatriot at Toyota next year.

“I think the fact that Kalle’s only doing half a season in 2024 has handed the championship on the plate to somebody,” he opines.

“But in Elfyn Evans, Toyota has somebody who’s solid and reliable – and it’s got Ogier part time too. So from Toyota’s perspective, it’s Elfyn’s big chance next year.

“Tanak going back to Hyundai is going to be a thorn in the backside of Toyota, and Kalle will be muddying the waters too.”