Toyota confirmed that Kalle Rovanperä will compete in a full World Rally Championship season next year with his co-driver Jonne Halttunen.
The two-time world champion only participated in half of this season’s rallies, allowing him to explore other motorsports and enjoy some much-needed free time.
This year, Rovanperä competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and even got the chance to test a Red Bull Formula 1 car.
The lighter schedule has benefitted Rovanperä, and now he’s ready to fully commit to the WRC again.
“I’m really excited that I will be driving in the full WRC season again next year,” Rovanperä said.
“This year has been quite different for me, driving a few different cars and still winning some rallies at the same time. It’s been a nice year, but it’s also given me a lot of motivation to return for the full season, to push together with Jonne for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles and do our best with the team to win the manufacturers’ championship too,” he added.
Jonne Halttunen also enjoyed the lighter schedule this year, but he’s looking forward to returning to a full WRC calendar – much more so than watching rallies on television.
“This was a bit of a different season for us, doing only half the season and coming in as champions for this year. I think our only goal was to win the events we participated in. And actually, we won four and retired three times from first place,” Halttunen recounted.
“Kalle is super motivated. The year has been good for him because he has been doing rally already quite long. Many people don’t understand even though he’s quite young, but he’s been driving his whole age, so I guess for Kalle was good to have one season to also try something else. But I know that we are super motivated and we are pushing for the both titles 100%,” Halttunen promised.
Halttunen travelled to Japan for the final rally of the season, but spectating was not quite as enjoyable as competing.
“We were watching the rally, and for me, it’s more nerve-wracking to be on the other side. Watching the rally on TV feels horrible. It’s just so much nicer to be back in the car early next year,” Halttunen laughed.
Toyota secured the manufacturers’ championship on Sunday after an intense and dramatic battle with Hyundai. The 2025 season kicks off in late January with the iconic Monte Carlo Rally.
