This year, Rovanperä is participating only in selected WRC events as a driver for Toyota’s factory team. In the first half of the season, he competed in three rounds: he faced setbacks due to crashes in Sweden and Portugal but achieved a dominant victory in Kenya.
Rovanperä started his rally hiatus after the Rally Portugal held in early May. The reigning world champion watched the Sardinian round from the sidelines and will also miss the upcoming Rally Poland at the end of June.
However, Rovanperä is set to return to action in mid-July. According to RallyJournal.com, Rovanperä will take the wheel in Toyota’s third car, as Sebastien Ogier, who shares the responsibility with him, will take a break after the Rally Poland, allowing Rovanperä to compete in the new Latvian WRC event.
“It’s certain that Kalle will be participating in the Rally Finland, but there’s a small question mark over Latvia. I assume that… We’ll see where we stand in the championship and then decide on drivers for the rest of the season,” said Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
Rovanperä is well-acquainted with Latvian rally roads, having gained driving experience in the Latvian Rally Championship as a teenager before turning professional. He won the Latvian Rally Championship in 2016 and 2017.
Latvia is making its debut in the WRC calendar this year, with the event based in the coastal city of Liepaja.
The Rally Latvia will take place from July 18-21. Before that, the championship will head to Poland from June 27-30.
