Rovanperä hopes circuit racing exploits can help 2025 WRC return

Kalle Rovanperä says he has learned “a lot of things” in 2024 and hopes his new-found circuit racing skills can help him in Asphalt World Rally Championship events in 2025.

The two-time World Rally Champion will return full-time to the WRC in 2025 after a year off, where he expanded his motorsport horizons by combining a circuit racing program with a partial WRC campaign.

In addition to winning four of the seven WRC rounds he started for Toyota this year, Rovanperä made his circuit racing debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series. The Finn finished fourth in the championship after winning races at Imola, Red Bull Ring and Zolder.

Rovanperä’s circuit racing exploits also include a visit to the Porsche Carrera Cup Italy, while in November he tested an older generation Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring.

Earlier this week, they announced plans to kick off the 2025 season with a drive in Dubai 24 hours before the WRC’s Monte Carlo season opening (23-26 January).

Rovanperä believes that exploring circuit racing has proven beneficial in improving his skills that can be transferred to rallying.

“I’ve learned a lot of things about myself and what kind of things I like and what kind of things I want to do in my life,” Rovanperä told Autosport.

“Of course, I’m also learning about circuit racing as a driver, I think there have been a lot of positives.”

When asked if he thought the skills learned could help him in asphalt rallies, he said: “Well, at least I hope so. It always depends on what your circumstances are.

“If it’s dirty and there’s a lot of cuts and stuff it’s not really like circuit racing, but then if we have some super clean rallies, like maybe the Canary Islands, then hopefully that will help me there. Will help you feel better.”

Rovanperä returned to the asphalt stage earlier this month driving a 2025 specification GR Yaris Rally1 at the Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy. Finn finishes 10-stage rally in second place behind new Hyundai Signature Adrian Fourmaux,

The rally offered Rovanperä valuable mileage on new Hankook tires for 2025, which were fitted to the 2025 spec non-hybrid version of his Toyota.

“It was quite good, we had good conditions for a test rally,” he said.

“We were also testing the new Hankook tires and I would say overall it was a very good weekend. We got a lot of important information for next year.

“You can definitely feel the difference in weight (without hybrid power) which is the most positive thing about it. It is light so it is good to ride.”