Kalle Rovanpera "open" on 2027 motorsport future ahead of talks with Toyota

Kalle Rovanpera, the two-time world rally champion, is considering a return to competitive motorsport in 2027 as he discusses his next steps with Toyota. The Finnish driver has been cleared to resume his motorsport career after recovering from a health issue that forced him to abandon plans for a move to circuit racing in Super Formula this year.

Rovanpera recently returned to rally racing, driving a Toyota Corolla GT AE86 rally car alongside his former co-driver Jonne Halttunen during demonstration runs at Rally Finland. He expressed his enjoyment of the experience, noting that he had been away from racing for most of the year and had focused on his recovery instead.

Rovanpera has been in contact with Takamoto Katsuta, his former Toyota WRC team-mate and current WRC standout, offering advice and support. He admitted that his absence from the sport has been a little sad, particularly missing Katsuta's first win at Safari Rally Kenya.

As he prepares to discuss his future with Toyota, Rovanpera remains open to various options, both within rallying and circuit racing. While he enjoyed circuit racing in the past, he emphasized that rallying remains a significant part of his plans. He also expressed interest in seeing the future direction of the WRC after the announcement of a new commercial rights holder.