Kalle Rovanpera, a double world rally champion from Finland, has announced that he will be taking a break from competitive driving next season after reaching a multi-year agreement with Toyota. The 26-year-old driver expressed that he has been driving rally cars for 15 years and the previous seasons have been demanding both mentally and physically. He believes it is time to take a break to recharge and come back stronger in the next season.

During his break, Rovanpera plans to explore other forms of motorsport such as drifting. Meanwhile, Sebastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion from France, will continue part-time with Toyota. The full-time drivers for 2024 are Welshman Elfyn Evans and Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta. Evans, who has finished as a runner-up three times in the last four years, is determined to build on his progress and improve his performance in the upcoming season. This news was reported by Alan Baldwin in London and edited by Ken Ferris.