Rovanpera Eyes Le Mans and Nurburgring 24-Hour Races, WEC Test in the Future
Two-time WRC Champion Expands Motorsport Horizons
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera made a successful circuit racing debut last weekend, finishing fourth and fifth in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux races at Zandvoort. As the 23-year-old Finn expands his motorsport horizons, he has expressed interest in participating in 24-hour races at Le Mans and the Nurburgring, as well as testing Toyota’s GR010 Hybrid WEC Hypercar.
“I have always wanted to race on the circuit, and I have a few dreams, particularly 24-hour races like Le Mans or Nurburgring, but let’s first see how the races in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux go.”
Regarding the WEC Hypercar test, Rovanpera added, “I would really like to test it. You can see how well Toyota is doing in the WEC. We have to do a simulator test first and it depends on that: you have to be fast enough to drive the real car.”
Toyota’s Openness to Expanding Opportunities
Rovanpera’s desire to race at Le Mans is not unique among Toyota WRC drivers. Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, who shares the third GR Yaris Rally1 with Rovanpera this year, made his Le Mans 24 Hours debut in 2022, driving a Richard Mille Racing LMP2 prototype to ninth in class. Ogier also tested Toyota’s WEC Hypercar in the WEC’s 2021 Bahrain rookie test and had two further outings in 2022.
When asked about the possibility of Rovanpera securing a WEC test, Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe director Rob Leupen responded, “We did it with Seb Ogier. Let’s see what happens. It would be a nice thing to do — he’d have a good benchmark with Seb.”
Fans Eagerly Await Rovanpera’s Next Move
As the 2023 WRC season progresses, fans eagerly await Rovanpera’s next move, which could potentially see him competing in multiple disciplines, including WRC, circuit racing, and endurance racing. With his impressive debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and his desire to test the WEC Hypercar, Rovanpera’s future in motorsport looks bright.
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