YOUNGEST EVER WRC DRIVER TO CHALLENGE AT RALLY AUSTRALIA

Kalle Rovanperä to be youngest WRC driver at Rally Australia – Photo: Supplied

Finnish Rally prodigy Kalle Rovanperä will be the youngest driver in the FIA World Rally Championship when he lines up to contests Rally Australia at age of just 17 in November.

The currently 16-year-old son of former WRC driver, and Rally Sweden winner, Harri Rovanperä is no stranger to rallying despite his young age. Last year he won the Latvian Rally Championship and he has also completed at select rounds of the Finnish and Italian series’ despite not being old enough to qualify for a road licence.

However, once he turns 17 that restriction will be lifted and he will get the opportunity to compete in the final two rounds of the WRC, Wales Rally GB and the season ending Rally Australia in Coffs Harbour, behind the wheel of an M-Sport prepared WRC2 spec Ford Fiesta.

“Kalle Rovanperä’s entry is fantastic news for spectators and yet another reason not to miss Rally Australia this year,” said the rally’s sporting chief, Clerk of Course Wayne Kenny.

“He’s a huge talent and a potential champion and is bound to add some fireworks to WRC2 – but there will be action aplenty elsewhere in the field too.

“His senior teammate Sébastien Ogier is potentially going to be fighting for the goal Kalle one day hopes to reach – the FIA World Rally Championship – and Molly Taylor, Nathan Quinn and Harry Bates are definitely in a showdown for the Australian Rally Championship.”

M-Sport’s Malcolm Wilson is excited to see how the young Finnish driver progresses, having being compared to Dutch Formula 1 star Max Verstappen.

“There’s always something really exciting about seeing these young guys progress. Having him with us for GB and Australia is fantastic news – he’s going to be a real talking point on the last two rounds of this year’s World Championship.” said Wilson.

The youngster also is in the sights of M-Sport’s WRC rival, Hyundai, which has selected him among eight finalists in its young driver development program. The winner will be given a Hyundai-supported entry in next year’s WRC2 series.

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