Kalle Rovanperä in the middle of an air hole

Back full-time after a year spent searching for his teenage years, the 24-year-old two-time world champion is a shadow of his former self. His current stats are a far cry from his previous best, and he's already significantly behind in the championship. Will the arrival of more traditional events allow him to reverse the trend... and stay involved until the end?

Published 10/04/2025 à 09:00

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Kalle Rovanperä in the middle of an air hole

Kalle Rovanperä is not an effusive person. When he celebrates a world title on the roof of his Rally1, it is immediately apparent that the improvised dance is rather clumsy and not at all natural. In defeat too, the Finn had so far displayed the same reserve, as if, good or bad, the results in WRC left him indifferent.

His encounter, a few hours after his retirement in the Naivasha service park during the final stage of the Kenya Safari, had given a completely different image of the blond kid who had seen it all. Even less talkative than usual, Kalle was really feeling the blow. It must be said that this cruel outcome had just brought to a close a cycle of three very disappointing races.

A difficult start to the season

The Safari was the third round of the championship's debut, featuring very specific rallies. With just 31 points, the driver's tally Toyota is mediocre. Sébastien Ogier, who has only raced once in 2025, is better off (33 pts). Beyond this figure, it is the performances of the Finn that have been worrying. At Monte-Carlo, on