Kalle Rovanperä will return to the World Rally Championship in 2027 on a partial-season program, reversing his 2025 decision to step away from the series after health problems derailed his planned switch to formula racing. The 26-year-old Finn, a world champion in 2022 and 2023, will not contest all 15 rounds of the championship next year, unlike compatriot Ott Tänak, who also returns to the series in 2027.
The return to rallying was not initially planned. At the end of 2025, Rovanperä intended to focus on formula car racing in the near future, but health problems disrupted those plans, forcing him back to the sport where he won his titles. In an interview with DirtFish, he revealed that dizziness in high-load corners occurred more frequently than had been publicly disclosed. “Obviously, if we return to rallying, then there is really no room for any formulas,” Rovanperä said. “The plan was not to drive rallying, so something in our plans did not work out. But given how this project turned out, I am fully reconciled with it because the reason is health problems. I could not influence it in any way.”
Finn prioritizes personal challenges
Rovanperä described 2026 as a relatively calm year in motorsport, which he characterized as a “great restart” for himself. Despite the planned competition schedule making it likely difficult to fight for the WRC championship title in 2027, he noted that Sébastien Ogier proved in 2025 that it is possible to miss several rounds and still finish at the top of the overall standings. “I think the championship title is always what you aim for, but I already have two titles, so it is not my only goal,” the Finn said. “If I can have an interesting season where I do half the rallies, then drift and various other interesting projects, then that is something I really like.”
Testing Toyota’s 2027 machinery
Rovanperä also had the opportunity to test Toyota’s new car for 2027. He acknowledged that it will be good, but added that the transition from a faster to a slower car is not pleasant for any racing driver. “It will be a good car. If you ask a driver who is moving from a faster car to a slower one whether the new one is more fun, I think no one will say that,” he said. “That is part of a racing driver’s DNA. I have not driven a Rally1 car this year either.”
He accepted that life had brought an unexpected twist. “Therefore, yes, it is very unpleasant, but I myself am fully reconciled with this situation. If something happens that you really cannot influence, then there is not much more you can do. I accept it and life goes on. Life tends to bring unexpected twists, and then we will see what happens next.”
Back to rally! 🔥 Kalle Rovanperä returns to WRC action for a partial 2027 season driving the new GR Yaris Rally1! 🙌#GAZOORacing #GRYaris #WRC pic.twitter.com/YD9LkeuipJ
