After being champion in the last two seasons, Kalle Rovanperä made a surprising decision and will not compete full-time in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2024. However, he renewed with Toyota for several years and will participate in some rallies, alternating in the third GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid with Sébastien Ogier.
After the season ended yesterday, the Japanese manufacturer announced its plans for next year. Vice-champion Elfyn Evans continues full-time, now seeking to take the step that has been missing for him to become champion. The other permanent driver is promising Takamoto Katsuta, who completed his first full season this year, although only scoring points for the constructors’ championship in rallies where Ogier did not participate.
As has been the case since retiring full-time at the end of 2021, Ogier will be in a partial program in a third car – a format in which he has continued to demonstrate his worth with multiple victories. Rovanperä will now alternate with the Frenchman, choosing not to have the pressure and commitments of a full season in order to also dedicate himself to other disciplines such as drifting.
