Ex-Formula 1 racer Heikki Kovalainen clinched his second consecutive All-Japan Rally title with a third-place finish on last weekend's penultimate round of the season in Hokkaido.
Kovalainen had won four of the previous five rounds of the championship heading to Rally Hokkaido as he aimed to defend his 2022 title alongside co-driver Sae Kitagawa in his Team Aicello Skoda Fabia R5.
"There's still a lot of work to do on gravel events, it's mainly my driving that is too neat and tidy on gravel and I need to get my head around to slide the car more. It's also more difficult with the pace notes on gravel as the grip keeps changing so to judge the speed correctly is harder than on tarmac.
The 41-year-old has one event left on his schedule in Finland, where his best finish of the year has been sixth, as well as one in Japan, the Rally Highland Masters that closes out the season in October.
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