Two major announcements shook the World Rally Championship this autumn. First, Toyota star Kalle Rovanperä revealed he would be switching to circuit racing, and a month later Ott Tänak confirmed he would be placing his rally career on hold for the time being.
Neither driver has ruled out a return to the top level in the future. For now, both are focusing on the next chapter of their lives.
Alexandre Coria, who reads the notes for Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux, says he understands both decisions.
“For Kalle, he has wanted for a little while to discover something else. He discovered rallying at the age of 5 and has done only rallying for 15 years. He was programmed to be a WRC world champion, and that is what he achieved twice. So I understand his choice to leave,” Coria told French outlet Rallye Sport.
Coria knows Tänak better, as they were team-mates this past season.
“For Ott, the reasons are different. He has had events in his private life that needed to be dealt with, and he has always wanted to devote more time to his children and his family.”
“He is also someone who drives only to win. The car hasn’t always been in the game this year, and he wanted to stop in order to take a break,” Coria explained.
Coria is convinced that both Rovanperä and Tänak will one day return to fight at the top level of rallying.
“Maybe not in 2027, but they will come back! Kalle in particular will realise that he misses certain things that he can only experience in rallying,” Coria underlined.
Rovanperä is only 25 years old, so he still has plenty of competitive years ahead of him. Tänak, at 38, is naturally closer to the final stages of his career.
