2025 WRC News & Rumours

I'm not really surprised, a driver who takes a sabbatical year from WRC after just 4 seasons... maybe winning the title so early in his career took away some motivation, as his rallying goal was already achieved. And Kalle seems to have never enjoyed driving these new hybridless cars on Hankook.
Too bad for us rally fans...

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

Well, if Oliver doesn´t fit, you guys can´t ever more suggest any other driver for years to come. Name any other than Oliver who would belong in at Toyota? You are talking old guys who peaked. Now there´s a door open for at least one more youngster.

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Rallying isn't about peaking, it is all about experience. Ogier is driving like never before, so is he peaking at the moment?

Don't get me wrong, Oliver belongs to Rally1 and would be massive disappointment if he isn't doing a full season next year. But we have seen this with Lappi. Won on his favorite surface in Finland but rest of the career wasn't as everyone hoped and expected. So the question is that is Toyota willing to take the risk?

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Originally Posted by Rallyper

Stars like Kalle has always been going new ways. Testing their possibilities and skills in new surroundings. And let´s hope he will be happy with racing for a while.

But I put it here already: Kalle will eventually find out that rallying is his thing. And coming back to WRC within 4-5 years, maybe even earlier....

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I hope he returns.

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Originally Posted by becher

I hope he returns.

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Same. He just turned 25. So even if he will do single seaters for couple of years, maybe he will miss winning and return to WRC. As I understand, the plan is Super Formula '26, F2 in '27. So couple of years that and if there is nothing that will get him into F1, I hope he returns.

If we take that Rally1 has a total of around 10 seats available, then if one of those clearly occupied seats is getting free, it is really big news and makes the grand opening for the silly season.

WRC and Rally1 are interesting - every rally driver dreams of getting there, and those who are there are not willing to stay too long. It shows how overly demanding it is.

But one thing is for sure - neither Rovanperä nor Ogier has anything to lose with the last rallies this season, so they can go "all in" and the win-it-or-bin-it mode.

A real surprise to me but a brave decision and hope it works out as may well silence the roundy roundy boys once and for all! His move certainly puts into perspective Ogier's searching for yet another title.

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Originally Posted by meh

If we take that Rally1 has a total of around 10 seats available, then if one of those clearly occupied seats is getting free, it is really big news and makes the grand opening for the silly season.

WRC and Rally1 are interesting - every rally driver dreams of getting there, and those who are there are not willing to stay too long. It shows how overly demanding it is.

But one thing is for sure - neither Rovanperä nor Ogier has anything to lose with the last rallies this season, so they can go "all in" and the win-it-or-bin-it mode.

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Add Tänak to that list since he is not driving for manu points anymore, so im hoping we get a very interesting end to the season

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Originally Posted by Rallyest

Add Tänak to that list since he is not driving for manu points anymore, so im hoping we get a very interesting end to the season

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For the title fight, Tänak is too far behind, but for rally wins, sure.

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Originally Posted by bandit12

Nope.
Kalle out- Oliver in.
Tanak retires.

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Nah, after next season

Despite the rumours and his demeanor recently this is still a big shock that Kalle is totally quitting to go racing. We've never seen anything like this before.

Toyota spoke about needing competition in rallying to make their achievements worthy.

I hope they dont take Tanak as this would seriously weaken Hyundai and make the last year of Rally1 a real one-sided Championship.