Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen’s second rally world championship was celebrated on Thursday in Jyväskylä. The Finnish duo also tested for next season’s World Rally Championship.
A large crowd had gathered in the center of Jyväskylä on Thursday evening to watch Kalle Rovanperän and Jonne Halttunen championship party. The two-time rally world champions came to the party venue drifting impressively.
Earlier in the day, Rovanperä and Halttunen were testing Toyota’s car for next season. The Finnish duo will drive only half of the World Cup rally season next year.
The test conditions were very snowy. Rovanperä could reveal his first World Cup rally of the season in an interview with .
– Last year’s rally in Sweden was not the best with the car. We are trying to improve the car in winter conditions for next year.
– Can it be read between the lines that you are driving in the World Rally Championship in Sweden, ‘s reporter asked.
– It is very possible, but I will not comment on it further, Rovanperä answered.
The 2024 World Championship rally season will start from Monte Carlo as usual. The second of the season will be run in February in Sweden. Rovanperä won that snow rally two years ago.
“It would be crazy if it wasn’t”
Rovanperä announced in November that he will only drive half of the World Cup rally season next year.
– It was a clear decision on my part. I felt that it had to be done, Rovanperä commented on Thursday.
In the case of Rovanperä, driving for half a season first of all removes the stress of the championship.
– When you drag out half a season, you don’t have to stress about your own personal championship. The stress usually starts from Monte Carlo and lasts until the end of the season, Rovanperä refers to the championship fight.
Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala admits that Rovanperä’s decision was a surprise in itself. However, he saw some kind of indications from the beginning of the season, when Rovanperä was not at his best and motivation was a little low.
– Kalle enjoys driving. He is not the type of driver who is aiming for ten world championships like, say Sebastien Ogier. When you’re young, you have to have a goal that drives you forward, Latvala states.
Latvala believes that half a season will give Rovanpera new energy to return for the 2025 season.
And will we see the Finnish duo at the World Rally Championship in Jyväskylä?
– The goal is at least this way. It would be crazy if it wasn’t.
See the pictures from Rovanperä’s tests
Updated 22.03: Added pictures.