Rovanpera accepting a significant salary reduction to pursue his Formula 1 ambition.

Rovanpera accepting a significant salary reduction to pursue his Formula 1 ambition.

      Kalle Rovanpera has agreed to a significant salary reduction as he transitions from rallying to single-seaters, with his manager indicating that his base pay for next year will be "merely formal" compared to what he earned in the World Rally Championship.

      As reported by Ilta-Sanomat, the 25-year-old received approximately EUR 6 million in salary from Toyota during the recently concluded WRC season, positioning him among the highest-paid drivers in rallying. Manager Timo Jouhki chose not to confirm the exact amount but did not dispute its magnitude. "I cannot comment on the details of the contract," he stated. "The annual salaries of the top drivers in the World Championship are in the millions."

      Rovanpera will compete in Japan's Super Formula in 2026, with intentions to advance to Formula 2 in 2027—this is the pathway Toyota is utilizing to assess whether the two-time rally champion can progress to F1. Jouhki acknowledged that this career shift entails a significant financial decrease. "Kalle's actual salary will drop considerably, that’s certain," he confirmed.

      "Kalle will only receive a small formal compensation from Toyota next season, while his actual income will come from sponsors." Red Bull continues to be his primary supporter, and all other major sponsors are reportedly remaining with him. "Kalle will also earn considerable income from these sponsorship deals next season. Furthermore, Toyota covers all costs related to his driving," Jouhki added.

      The manager cautioned that expectations should be realistic, highlighting that Rovanpera's experience on circuits is "very limited." "In principle, Kalle could perform well next season, but it involves more than just basic driving skills," he noted, emphasizing the significant physical adjustments required. "On the track, the G-forces are much more intense, especially during braking into corners. And in F2, the driving demands a lot from your arms as well."

      Rovanpera has already dedicated six months to preparations with specialized coaching, including an F1 trainer, along with limited testing and simulator practice. He is set to participate in more F2 testing in early December. Jouhki remarked that Toyota is serious about assessing his potential in single-seater racing. "Toyota is keen to evaluate Kalle’s capabilities on the track through the pathway of Super Formula and F2," he stated.

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Rovanpera accepting a significant salary reduction to pursue his Formula 1 ambition.

Formula 1 | Kalle Rovanpera has agreed to a significant pay cut as he transitions from rallying to single-seater racing, with his manager confirming that next year's (…)