Mexico: Rovanpera to run Rally of Nations event

ROVANPERA FOR FINLAND IN MEXICO

Looking forward to Corona Rally Mexico 2009 in its Rally of the Nations edition, finnish driver Harri Rovanpera has confirmed his entry to represent his country. Harri's co-driver will be announced soon.

In 2002, Harri was the first top-level rally driver to compete in Mexico, while the country was yet to join the WRC calendar, and he garnered a huge and enthusiastic Mexican following as a result. He has repeatedly stated that he loves Mexico and has great memories of his previous visits, especially due to the warmth of the local populace. He is sure to be a local favourite during the weekend of July 9th through 11th in Leon, Guanajuato.

That first year, Harri competed under the banner of Peugeot Sport in a 206 WRC and decimated the competition. He is keenly aware that this year's rally will bo much more closely fought, given the level of the confirmed crews and the fact that, due to event's regulations, they will all be competing in very similar machinery. This will no doubt make the rally a fairer competition and will reward driver and co-driver skill. Harri will be at the wheel of a Gr. N Mitsubishi Evo IX. He hasn't rallied a Group N since 1996, so his challenge will be quite great.

Having been part of world class teams such as Mitsubishi, Ford, Seat and Peugeot, Harri won his first WRC event in Sweden in 2001. Today, the former WRC driver returns to Mexico to represent his country and to fight for the Nations Cup in Corona Rally Mexico 2009, the Rally of Nations.

-credit: www.rallyofnations.com