– Two-time rally world champion Kalle Rovanperä plans his return to racing in 2027 after health problems. During a surprise visit to Rally Estonia, the ninth round of the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC), the Finn gave first insights into his current condition.
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Rovanperä is on the road to recovery after a medically required forced break. After health problems thwarted his original plans to switch to circuit racing this year, the Finn has now been declared fit to drive again. During a short visit to Rally Estonia, the two-time champion expressed optimism that he is “slowly feeling his way back to everything.”
The Finn’s visit was spontaneous. Rovanperä was passing through Tartu. He took the opportunity to attend the ceremonial start on Thursday evening and to follow the shakedown on Friday.
Spontaneous visit to Rally Estonia
“We were just passing through and I decided to watch the shakedown. It wasn’t really planned to come here, but it’s nice to see the guys,” Rovanperä told WRC.com.
It was his first appearance in the WRC service park since the season finale last year at Rally Saudi Arabia. That race marked the provisional end of his WRC career, as he had announced that he would compete in circuit racing from 2026.
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But here his health put a stop to those plans. An inner ear illness causing positional vertigo has troubled him since last winter. In March 2026, he had to cancel the planned season in the Japanese Super Formula.
Comeback firmly in sight for 2027
Meanwhile, the Finn is feeling better. Toyota had already announced last month that Rovanperä has resumed physical training and is preparing a gradual return to the cockpit. The declared goal remains a comeback in professional racing for 2027. He took first steps last month when he got behind the wheel of his Toyota GR Supra drift car.
“Obviously, I have now been declared fit to drive again, which is nice, and I am slowly feeling my way back to everything. I don’t yet know what the next plans look like, but it will definitely be something interesting,” he added. “The winter period was intense, we drove a lot and did many interesting things. It was unfortunate that it ended the way it did, but let’s see what comes next.”
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