Rovanperä returns to WRC with Toyota for 2027 after health setbacks

Two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä will return to the WRC with GAZOO Racing TOYOTA in 2027, after health problems derailed his plans to move into single-seater racing. The Finn had left rallying at the end of 2025 with the aim of progressing through Super Formula towards Formula 2.

He was affected by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, an inner-ear condition, which forced him to abandon a Super Formula test and later led to his withdrawal from the championship in March. After recovering and being cleared to drive, Toyota offered him a test of its new-generation WRC car, which led to the return deal. Rovanperä will rejoin co-driver Jonne Halttunen, alongside Ott Tänak and Takamoto Katsuta.

Toyota will field two competing teams under the new regulations, with reigning champion Elfyn Evans, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari at TOYOTA RACING. Rovanperä, who won the drivers' titles in 2022 and 2023, said he was looking forward to learning the new car.