In 2024, Rovanperä competed in a reduced calendar, taking part in seven WRC events, of which he won four. Additionally, the Toyota driver focused on the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series, where he claimed victories at Imola, Red Bull Ring in Austria, and Zolder in Belgium.
Rovanperä also made appearances in a few races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia series, tested Red Bull’s Formula 1 car, and participated in a couple of smaller national events. Earlier in December, he announced his participation in the Dubai 24-hour race in January.
The two-time rally champion believes that his circuit racing experience could benefit him in rallying as well.
“I have learned many things about myself and what kind of things I enjoy, and what kind of things I want to do in my life. I have been learning as a driver also on the circuit racing stuff, I think there has been quite many positive things,” Rovanperä told Autosport.
“I hope so (the experience can also be useful in rallying).It always depends on what kind of conditions you have. If it is dirty and there are a lot of cuts and stuff it is not really like circuit racing but then if we have some super clean rallies, like maybe Canary Islands will be, I hope it will help me to have good feeling there.”
Next season in the WRC will bring changes, including a new tyre supplier, with Korean brand Hankook providing tyres for the cars. Additionally, the cars will be updated as hybrid units are removed, and air restrictor sizes are reduced. Rovanperä gained valuable insights into these changes while competing in the Devoluy Rally in France this December.
“It was pretty good, we had good conditions for the rally for testing. We were testing the new Hankook tyres also and it was a pretty good weekend overall I would say. We got a lot of important information for next year,” Rovanperä said.
“You can definitely feel the weight difference (without hybrid power) which is the most positive thing about it. It is lighter so it is nicer to drive.”
