Kalle Rovanperä, a two-time world rally champion, has taken the motorsport world by storm with his unparalleled skill and determination. But recent, heartbreaking comments from his mother, Tiina Rovanperä, shed light on the darker side of the young star’s life before he rose to the top of rallying. In an emotional piece published in X, Tiina told how Kalle struggled with depression as a child and how rallying came to his rescue. “He used to be a depressed child, luckily he found rallying, this sport saved him from those years,” Tiina wrote. The revelation has touched fans and sparked a debate about the spiritual meaning of motorsport.

Kalle Rovanperä, now 24, has been a rally prodigy who became world champion at the age of 22 in 2022. His career has been full of records: he is the youngest World Rally Championship winner and the youngest world champion. But Tiina’s words remind us that behind the success there is a human story. Kalle grew up in a motor racing family, as his father, Harri Rovanperä, was himself a World Rally Championship driver. Tiina said that Kalle was a shy and withdrawn child who struggled with self-esteem issues and loneliness. At school, he didn’t always fit in, and as he approached puberty, symptoms of depression began to appear. “I could see that he was lost,” Tiina wrote. “But when he got behind the wheel, he changed.”

Discovering rallying was a turning point in Kalle’s life. By the age of five, he was already driving under his father’s supervision, and by the age of ten, he was competing in karting and small rallies. Tiina recalled how Kalle found joy and confidence in motorsport. “Rallying gave him a purpose. It was his way of expressing himself,” she said. The physical and mental demands of rallying helped Kalle channel his emotions, and competing gave him a community that supported him. In 2015, at just 15 years old, Kalle made his debut in adult rallying in Latvia, and his career took off like a rocket. The 2020 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT signing was the final step towards the top of the world.

Tiina’s openness has been met with a huge response. On X, hashtags like #KalleInspiroi and #RalliPelastaa have gone viral as fans share their own stories of how motorsport has helped them through difficult times. Many have praised Tiina for her courage to speak out about mental health, a topic that is still taboo in many sporting circles. “Kalle’s story shows that success doesn’t always come easy. Thank you, Tiina, for sharing this,” wrote one fan. Others have highlighted the community spirit of rallying, which has supported Kalle on his journey.

Rovanperä’s career has been exceptional, but also demanding. In 2024, he only drove a partial season to focus on his mental well-being, and in the 2025 season, he returned to full competition. His victories at Rally Sweden in February 2025 and Rally Islas Canarias in April show that he is still at the top. Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala commented in an interview with Yle: “Kalle is a unique talent, but also a person who has been through a lot. We are proud of his openness.” Latvala emphasized that the team supports Kalle not only as a driver but also as an individual.

Tiina’s revelation has opened an important conversation about mental health in motorsport. The relentless schedule of the World Rally Championship, the travel and the constant pressure to succeed can be exhausting. Kalle’s story is a reminder that even top athletes are vulnerable. His courage to speak out about his past struggles, combined with his mother’s touching support, has inspired many. Former world champion Marcus Grönholm told Ilta-Sanomat: “Kalle has changed the sport, not only with his driving, but also with the courage to be authentic.”

As the 2025 season continues, Kalle will prepare for the World Rally Championship in Japan in November, an event that is especially meaningful to him as Toyota’s home race. Fans will follow his performances both on and off the track, hoping that he will continue to inspire. Tiina’s words resonate: the rally not only saved Kalle, but it gave him the opportunity to show the world who he truly is – a champion who has won not only races but also his own battles.