Kalle Rovanpera is determined to bounce back as the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) heads to Africa for next month’s Safari Rally Kenya. After a steady but unspectacular start to his title defense, the Toyota Gazoo Racing star currently sits third in the standings following a fourth-place finish at Rallye Monte-Carlo and a fifth in Sweden.
While these results have kept him in the championship fight, Rovanpera knows that a strong performance in Kenya is crucial to regaining momentum.
“Now we need to focus on the next rally on gravel with a completely different tyre and work to be stronger there,” Rovanpera stated.
His struggles so far this season have largely been linked to the transition to new Hankook tyres, which have proven trickier than expected. Finding the right balance and grip has been a challenge, with the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 not yet delivering the expected performance.
The upcoming Safari Rally Kenya will present an entirely different challenge from the fast, snowy roads of Sweden. Known for its punishing terrain, deep ruts, and unpredictable weather, the African event demands a fresh approach. Rovanpera and his team must work quickly to optimize their car’s setup with the gravel-spec Hankook tyres.
“We have one day of testing before Safari. I don’t know about the specification for the tyre, which one it will be. It’s another new thing [to be running on the gravel-spec Hankook] and we have to see how it goes,” Rovanpera explained. “There’s not really much we can do to prepare before the test, I just hope it’s going to be working more in a way which works for me.”
Despite early-season struggles, Rovanpera has a strong track record at the Safari Rally. He secured victories in 2022 and 2023 and finished second in 2021, demonstrating his ability to master one of the WRC’s toughest events.
Toyota has dominated in Kenya since the rally returned to the WRC calendar in 2021, winning all three editions in the hybrid Rally1 era. Rovanpera will be looking to extend that streak while also closing the gap to early championship leader Thierry Neuville.
With just a single pre-event test day, his ability to adapt quickly will be crucial. The rough Kenyan terrain is notorious for its car-breaking potential, making reliability and strategy key factors in determining the outcome.
A strong result in Kenya could put Rovanpera’s title defense back on track, while another underwhelming finish may leave him with a tough climb in the championship standings.
