Big news from two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä the day after the 2023 season ended. The current world champion will move to a part-time programme in next year’s 2024 WRC.
Rovanperä has signed a new multi-year contract with Toyota. However, next season, the double world champion will not be competing at every event and thus not defend his second title.
“I have signed a multi-year contract with Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team. I’m really excited to continue with the team which I like a lot.”
“But next year we are going to see some changes for me and Jonne [Halttunen] because we are going to drive half of the WRC calendar next season.”
There are many reasons behind this”, said Rovanperä.
“But the biggest reason is that I have been driving rally for already 15 years, which is quite a long time. The last seasons have been amazing, but also really demanding, both mentally and physically.”
“It’s consuming a lot of time and energy to fight for the championships and go around the world full time on rallying.”
“So I felt that now it would be a good moment to take this kind of year [next season] for recharging the batteries, refreshing the mind and then come back again, full time to fight for the championships with full attack.”
More on Toyota’s full 2024 WRC line-up here!
Photo: Toyota Gazoo Racing