Finnish Driver Apologizes for Costly Mistake at WRC Rally Chile
The Finnish driver, competing in only his third start driving a Rally1 hybrid, was on track to secure a podium finish in the final gravel round of the season. Teemu Suninen put on an impressive performance throughout Friday and Saturday, briefly taking the lead after winning stage four before settling into second place.
However, Suninen’s hopes of a top-three finish were dashed when he made a costly error on the penultimate stage of the rally. The 29-year-old found himself in a tight battle with his competitors and was pushing hard to maintain his position.
Unfortunately, a mistake during the penultimate stage caused Suninen to lose valuable time and positions. This setback not only cost him a podium finish but also dropped him further down the overall standings.
Suninen expressed his disappointment and took full responsibility for the error. “I apologize to my team, Hyundai, and all the fans for my mistake,” he said. “It’s frustrating to have come so close to a podium finish and then throw it away with a simple error.”
Despite the disappointment, Suninen remains determined to learn from this experience and bounce back stronger in future rallies. “Mistakes happen in motorsport, and it’s how we respond to them that defines us,” he added. “I will take this as a valuable lesson and use it to improve my performance in the upcoming races.”
The Finnish driver’s impressive run at WRC Rally Chile showed his potential in the Rally1 hybrid car. With only three starts under his belt, Suninen has already proven himself capable of challenging the established frontrunners.
As the gravel rounds come to a close for this season, the WRC community will be eagerly anticipating the next set of challenges on different terrains. Excitement and anticipation continue to surround the championship, with drivers and teams aiming to showcase their skills and claim victory.