Korhonen claimed his first career victory in the WRC2 category on the gravel roads of Central Finland – and on top of that, he defeated his childhood idol Jari-Matti Latvala.

Korhonen beat the most experienced driver in the World Rally Championship by just 1.1 seconds.

After the rally, Korhonen admitted that he had not dared to talk about winning beforehand, as the WRC2 field in Finland was even stronger than usual. In addition to Latvala, the starting line-up also included, for example, Oliver Solberg, who had won Rally Estonia in mid-July.

And even before Sunday, Korhonen wasn’t entirely sure of victory, despite Solberg having dropped out of the fight earlier. Sunday’s route consisted solely of Ouninpohja – a stage Latvala knows rather well.

“Perhaps I felt we were a bit of an underdog going into Sunday. But I still had quite a confident feeling. I’ve also driven Ouninpohja a couple of times before myself, and I like that stage. Then I got a good run on the first pass and I knew there was a chance if the second pass went well,” Korhonen told the Keskisuomalainen podcast.

Korhonen, however, kept his nerve and left the 40-year-old Latvala in second place. After the rally, the Finnish driver posted a photo on social media, which in part reflected the significance of the victory.

“After the rally, we dug out the photo albums and found a picture from Rally Catalunya in 2008, where a tiny Roope is asking Jari-Matti for an autograph. Back then I wouldn’t have believed that one day I’d be fighting him for a win,” Korhonen admitted.

Korhonen also revealed that he had a brief chat with Latvala before the Power Stage. He was prepared to give up the win – but only on one condition.

“I suggested to Jari-Matti before the Power Stage that we could trade this victory for one rally in a Rally1 car, but he didn’t shake on it,” Korhonen laughed.