Two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä is gearing up for his full-time return to the WRC (World Rally Championship) in 2025 after spending 2024 diversifying his skills on the racetrack. With hopes of significantly impacting his performance, especially on tarmac rallies, Rovanperä's unconventional approach this past year is poised to reshape his career.
Instead of focusing solely on the WRC, the Finnish prodigy ventured out, participating actively in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, where he showcased impressive talents, clinching victories at prestigious venues like Imola, Red Bull Ring, and Zolder. Not only did he compete, but he also ended up finishing fourth overall in the championship standings for the series. Rovanperä's circuit racing experience included competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy and testing out an old Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring. Reflecting on his year of exploration, he stated, “I discovered the types of challenges I enjoy tackling and what I truly want to achieve in my career.”
This expanded skill set is expected to be transferable, particularly for the tarmac stages of the WRC. Rovanperä believes his time on the circuit has sharpened his precision and control, precisely what is necessary for conditions like those at the Rally Islas Canarias. He acknowledged, though, the challenges of rallying, especially when faced with unclean racing lines and tough debris-strewn paths, posing different challenges than circuit racing.
His return to asphalt rallies was already yielding promising results. The Finnish driver recently took to the Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy, finishing second behind competitor Adrien Fourmaux. This event allowed Rovanperä to test the all-new GR Yaris Rally1 with Hankook tires specially developed for the upcoming 2025 season, stressing its weight advantage and enhanced driveability of this non-hybrid model. “It was pretty good, we had good conditions for the rally for testing,” he remarked, underscoring the value of the experience and the data collected for Toyota.
Looking forward, the year 2025 promises to be pivotal. Rovanperä plans to commence his season with the 24 Hours of Dubai before heading to the renowned Rallye Monte-Carlo, scheduled for January 2025. This ambitious lineup not only reveals his versatility but also his readiness to embrace new challenges. Rovanperä’s preparation has been methodical, sharpening his skills and getting his car tuned up for the season. Could these different racing disciplines give him the tools needed to master the unpredictabilities of tarmac events? With renewed energy and enthusiasm, Rovanperä appears determined to solidify his status as one of the greats of rallying.
Thierry Neuville, the reigning champion, openly acknowledges the challenges posed by Rovanperä's impending return. He anticipates strong competition from Toyota, especially with five drivers representing the team, including Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, and Takamoto Katsuta for the full season, with Sebastien Ogier participating as well. Neuville remarked on the impending competitive dynamic, indicating the uphill battle he faces to defend his title.
Neuville expressed, “With the five cars compared to our three, it won’t be easy to fight against them.” He emphasized Toyota’s performance improvements coupled with the depth of their driver lineup as potential threats, adding intrigue to the upcoming season. Rovanperä’s re-entry completes the gladiatorial arena where experienced drivers like him and Neuville engage fiercely for every point.
Compounding these challenges is Rovanperä’s knowledge and experiences accumulated from racing outside of traditional rally events. Rovanperä explained, “Of course, I have been learning as a driver also on the circuit racing stuff, I think there have been quite many positive things.” Adding optimism, he highlighted the potential advantages during cleaner rallies, hoping his previous successes would translate to competitive energy when it matters most.
While the competition is tightening and expectations are mounting, Rovanperä’s confidence and strategic preparations define his return. With last year’s successes and the intricacies of different racers on the circuit, all systems appear to be go for Kalle Rovanperä—he’s ready to reclaim his spot among the rallying elite. The 2025 season looms large, teeming with opportunities and anticipation as Rovanperä plans to revel once again within the exhilarating world of WRC.
