It’s the news Finnish rally fans have been waiting for: Kalle Rovanperä is back in a rally car, and it’s called a Toyota Corolla.
Now, before we get too excited on two fronts, we need to recognize the potential for back-to-back Secto Rally Finland wins for #KR69 and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen is slim (actually non-existent). And secondly, the Corolla’s been around the block a few times. We’re not talking AE86, not WRC27.
But Rovanperä is, indeed, back and driving in Jyväskylä this week.
Out of the limelight since stepping back from his Super Formula program in March, the two-time world champion has been focused on a return to fitness following the discovery of a balance problem caused by Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.
Appearing at Rally Estonia two weeks ago as part of a vacation with his mom, Rovanperä has now confirmed he will drive Halttunen’s Toyota Corolla GT at the Harju street stage on Thursday of this week’s Secto Rally Finland.
Rovanperä will steer Halttunen's Toyota Corolla GT AE86, which Jonne normally drives in Finland's F-Cup
A statement regarding the outing detailed: “Two-time World Rally champions and reigning Secto Rally Finland winners Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen will reunite in a rally car during the 75th anniversary edition of Rally Finland. The pair will complete a demonstration run on the SS1 Harju stage on Thursday, July 30, in Jonne Halttunen’s Toyota Corolla GT AE86.
“As usual, Rovanperä will be behind the wheel, with Halttunen alongside him as co-driver. Their run will begin at Harju at 18:15, ahead of the WRC stage, which starts at 19:05.
“Thursday’s run will give spectators the opportunity to see Rovanperä and Halttunen together again at Harju, this time in a classic rear-wheel-drive Toyota Corolla GT AE86.
“Halttunen will also drive the same car at Harju on Friday, July 31, at 18:05. The car is part of his Jorma J team’s activities, which are also being followed in a television series “From co-driver to driver” on MTV3 and Katsomo. The series follows Jonne Halttunens season as a driver on regional rally series.”
