Rovanperä finished fourth in Monte Carlo and only fifth in Sweden, with his underwhelming performance in Sweden particularly raising eyebrows.
The Finn has been vocal about his struggles with the new Hankook tyres, which he feels do not suit his natural driving style. The third round of the season in Kenya will bring yet another challenge for him.
Rovanperä’s slow start has sparked critical discussions about the two-time world champion’s form, but Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala remains unconcerned – at least for now.
“Kalle has had a slightly more challenging start to the season, but it was the same situation for him in 2023,” Latvala reminded RallyJournal.com.
“So I’m not too worried about it,” Latvala added.
Indeed, Rovanperä also had a slower start in 2023, but ultimately ended the season as a two-time world champion. A similar turnaround is, of course, still possible this year.
However, this season differs from 2023, as Rovanperä took a partial sabbatical last year, competing in only half of the WRC rounds.
“I think there are a couple of factors at play here. Firstly, in Sweden, Kalle struggled to adapt well enough to the new tyres. The second thing is that missing certain rallies last year may now be affecting him, and he might be lacking some routine,” Latvala said bluntly.
Latvala believes that Rovanperä will already perform much better in Kenya.
“Now that we’re going back to gravel, I believe things will get easier for him, and the speed will return,” Latvala predicted.
