Kalle Rovanperä learned a lot about himself during his circuit races in 2024 and wants to benefit from this in the WRC as well.
After his partial break in 2024, Kalle Rovanperä will return to the World Rally Championship (WRC) in full next year – and, in his own estimation, as a more complete driver. That’s because the two-time WRC champion has expanded his driving repertoire this year by competing in circuit races.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself this year – about what things I enjoy and what I want to do with my life,” Rovanperä told Autosport, “Of course, I’ve also developed as a driver on the circuit, and there have been many positive aspects.”
After winning his second title in 2024, Rovanperä only competed in seven more WRC rallies, winning four of them. He also did a few races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and tested an older Red Bull Formula 1 car in Spielberg.
It was recently announced that the Finn will compete in the 2025 Dubai 24 Hours (January 10-12) in a Porsche GT3 car before the start of the 2025 WRC season in Monte Carlo (January 23-26).
When asked if the skills he has acquired on the circuit could help him in the asphalt rallies in the WRC, he replies: “At least I hope so. It always depends on the conditions. If it’s dirty and there are a lot of cuts, it’s not really like being on a circuit. But at a super-clean rally, as it might be the case in the Canary Islands, I hope I will have a good feeling.”
In preparation for the Rally Monte-Carlo, Rovanperä took part in the National Hivernal du Devoluy rally in France at the beginning of December 2024. He not only drove a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 in the 2025 specification without a hybrid system, but also the new tires from Hankook. The South Korean company is replacing Pirelli as the tire supplier for the top tier of the World Rally Championship in the new season.
“It was a good event with ideal test conditions,” explains Rovanperä. ‘We have gained important insights for next year, especially with the new Hankook tires. The lower weight without the hybrid system is definitely an advantage – the car is lighter and therefore more pleasant to drive.’
