The World Rally Championship (WRC) is filled with joy with the return of two stars, Kalle Rovanperä and Ott Tänak, who will be part of Toyota’s six-car team for the 2027 season. Both drivers, who have conquered the world title, then decided to take a break from competition during 2026.
Rovanperä, a two-time world champion, seemed to have closed the door on the WRC at the end of 2025 to embark on a new adventure in Super Formula. However, he had to give up this plan due to health reasons, following an episode of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo that kept him away from competition.
After receiving medical clearance to drive, Rovanperä expressed his surprise at his return to WRC, thanking the opportunity to participate in a partial campaign with the new GR Yaris. Moreover, he expressed his desire to share the season with some circuit races, although there are still no definitive plans.
“I am excited to return and happy to be able to do so,” Rovanperä said. “Life goes on and there are things that cannot be controlled. I am pleased to be able to continue with Toyota and to drive a rally car again after a year without competition.”
Tänak prepares for a strong comeback
For his part, Tänak decided to leave the WRC at the end of 2025 after a challenging season with Hyundai. However, he never ruled out the possibility of returning and, indeed, in 2027, he is rejoining the WRC full-time with the new GR Yaris after a role as a development driver for Toyota.
The Estonian driver has been involved in the development of the GR Yaris and the GR Celica, and believes that this experience has rekindled his desire to return to competition. “It has been good to have time for myself, but I miss the competition and the work,” Tänak said. “The level of the team has grown a lot and the level of competitiveness is high.”
With this return, both Rovanperä and Tänak add a new dimension to the WRC, promising excitement and rivalry for the upcoming season. Fans are looking forward to what will be an exciting rally season with these two champions in action.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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