At Toyota’s “home game” in Finland, Kalle Rovaneprä and Sebastien Ogier will be competing with special liveries
Fresh look for Toyota at its “home game” in the World Rally Championship (WRC): At the Rally Finland next weekend (August 1 to 4), Kalle Rovanperä and Sebastien Ogier will compete with a special livery on their GR Yaris Rally1
According to Toyota, the new design was inspired by the limited Rovanperä and Ogier special editions of the road version of the GR Yaris, which were presented at the beginning of the year.
Rovanperä’s car is painted in black, white and red, reminiscent of the design with which Toyota competed in the World Rally Championship until the 2023 season. Ogier’s car is finished in a subtle anthracite.
Part-time drivers Rovanperä and Ogier will both be competing in Toyota’s “home event” – the team is based not far from the rally center in Jyväskylä. Their teammates Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, who will contest the entire 2024 WRC season, will line up in the familiar black livery.
Toyota will also enter a fifth GR Yaris Rally1 in Finland for local hero Sami Pajari. The WRC2 driver will be competing in the premier class of the World Rally Championship for the first time at his home rally and will be driving a predominantly white-painted car.
For Rovanperä, the goal at the Rally Finland is clear: the two-time world champion wants to continue his winning streak after the Rally Poland and the Rally Latvia and erase a blank spot in his WRC record. Because the Finn has never won his home rally
“I haven’t had the best result at the Rally Finland yet, but I don’t want to put any extra stress on myself to achieve that. I just want to approach it like any other rally and try to do my best,” says Rovanperä.
“Our approach and goal are the same as every other rally we have taken part in this year: We want to do our best, fight for victory and score good points for the team. Of course, it is our home rally and one of the most beautiful events with many fans and family members,” continued Rovanperä.
Ogier last drove the Rally Finland in 2021 and is aiming for his third victory in 2024. “The Rally Finland is a unique event in the World Championship and I think every driver enjoys competing here. It’s also a difficult rally where the local drivers have always been very strong, but that’s the kind of challenge I like and it was a rally I really wanted to drive again after a few years off,” says Ogier.
“It’s obviously also a home rally for the team. I’m delighted to be part of this strong team and will give my all to achieve the best team result. After a break in which I didn’t drive any really fast rallies, I had good speed and a good weekend in Latvia, and I hope I can take that with me to Finland,” continued the eight-time world champion.