As Kalle Rovanperä waves goodbye to the World Rally Championship, he does so with no regrets – satisfied he’s achieved everything he set out to.
Becoming WRC2 Pro champion in 2019 with Škoda, the Finn joined Toyota’s factory lineup for 2020 and took his first WRC podium at just 19 years old on only his second Yaris WRC start.
A maiden victory followed in 2021 (in Estonia) before Rovanperä became world champion a year later – completely dominating the 2022 season as regulations pivoted to Rally1.
He and co-driver Jonne Halttunen doubled up in 2023 but were made to work much harder for it, while an unorthodox part-time season beckoned in 2024 where Rovanperä started seven events and won four of them.
Although Rovanperä was in championship contention up to the final round of 2025 in Saudi Arabia – and won three events including at home in Finland – an inconsistent campaign meant he fell short of a third world title.
In September, the 25-year-old announced he would be leaving rallying to pursue a single-seater racing career instead, starting with Super Formula in 2026 before moving onto Formula 1’s primary feeder series, Formula 2.
That made Rally Saudi Arabia potentially Rovanperä’s last ever WRC rally, with Halttunen unable to hide his tears as they crossed their final flying-finish together.
“Yeah, of course it’s quite emotional,” Rovanperä told DirtFish.
“It’s been the biggest part of my life, rallying overall, and it’s one really big chapter of life closing. But yeah, I’m still really proud and grateful of everything we have achieved and done. All the highs and lows are, you know, part of the journey.
“And yeah, I’m thankful for Jonne for all the good times. Also good results, but I think mostly the fun times we’ve had together, all the good memories. Everybody in Toyota, especially for the last years and all the teams I’ve ever been in. There are so many people on a journey like this that you cannot make it alone.
“I’m really happy with everything and of course I’m also happy with my decision still even after the finish line now. It feels the correct one and I regret nothing. I have achieved everything I wanted.
“It’s clear I now have new challenges which are bigger than I’ve had so far. I’m sure the next steps, next few years will be the toughest of my life so far. Rallying came really naturally. Now I step into the unknown. I will be definitely the underdog in many ways, but that’s why I wanted to do the challenge to show that I have the balls, let’s say, to do it.
“There is quite many people in my position who would never do it because you put yourself under a big threat and I’m ready to do it and I can be proud of whatever comes out of it.”
What’s immediately next?
With Rovanperä’s rallying commitments now behind him, any dreams of a relaxed winter break can be forgotten.
“Yeah, it’s a busy schedule,” he said. “I hoped when I quit, I would have a nice winter break, but I won’t.
“In one and a half weeks will be at the first official test in Super Formula in Suzuka. And then only a few weeks, Christmas holiday, and then the whole of January we will be in New Zealand driving the winter series there. So yeah, it’s a busy few months still, then there will be a bit of a break before Super Formula.”
The 2026 Formula Regional Oceania Trophy runs on four consecutive weekends from January 9 – February 1 at different tracks across New Zealand.
Rovanperä will drive a spec Tatuus FT-60 chassis, powered by a two-liter Toyota engine, likely for the Hitech TGR team which currently has a ‘TBA’ on the entry list. Rivals will include Formula 3 racers Louis Sharp and Freddie Slater.
The Super Formula season begins on April 4.
Will Rovanperä still watch the WRC?
“Yeah, for sure,” he replied.
“Rallying will always be close to the heart. It’s the first thing I ever did properly and it will be the love for driving and of course I’m going to miss mostly the people who you are working with in every category, so I will be following for sure.”
Rovanperä’s seat at Toyota is being taken by Oliver Solberg, who’ll drive a GR Yaris Rally1 as early as this weekend’s Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy.
Halttunen’s future plans are yet to be decided.
