The Finnish rally world is once again on fire after Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen, nicknamed “The Iceman”, announced that he will return to the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2026. Räikkönen’s return, revealed in an interview with Ilta-Sanomat, has attracted huge interest, and the reaction of young superstar Kalle Rovanperä, a two-time WRC champion, has been eagerly awaited. Rovanperä, who competes for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, expressed his joy and respect for Räikkönen’s decision to return to rallying, highlighting the strong tradition of Finnish motorsport. His comments to DirtFish reflect not only admiration but also expectations for what Räikkönen’s return could bring to the WRC.

Räikkönen, who competed in the WRC from 2010 to 2011 with Citroën and his own ICE 1 Racing team, left his mark on the series with his speed, although he failed to achieve podium finishes. His best result was fifth place in the 2010 Rally Turkey, and he won a special stage in Germany that year. Now 46, Räikkönen is planning to compete in selected events in the 2026 season, most notably the World Rally Championship in Finland, but not a full season. Rovanperä, who grew up idolizing Finnish motorsport stars such as Räikkönen, Mika Häkkinen and Tommi Mäkkinen, immediately commented on the news. “It’s great to hear that Kimi is back! He’s a legend, and his presence will definitely bring a lot of attention to the rally,” Rovanperä told DirtFish. He added that Räikkönen’s relaxed attitude and driving skills may surprise you, even though the series has changed since his last visit.

Rovanperä, a 24-year-old from Jyväskylä, has made history in the WRC himself. He won the world championships in 2022 and 2023, becoming the youngest champion at just 22 years old. In the 2025 season, he has returned to a full program after a partial season in 2024, in which he won four rallies but finished seventh. There are similarities in the stories of Rovanperä and Räikkönen: both rose to international fame at a young age, and they are united by a Finnish tenacity. Rovanperä’s father, Harri Rovanperä, was also a WRC driver, and Kimi Räikkönen’s nephew Justus Räikkönen has already shown promise in rallying, highlighting the Finnish motorsport tradition.

Rovanperä’s reaction to Räikkönen’s return was both enthusiastic and practical. He noted that the WRC series has evolved significantly since Räikkönen’s time. Rally1 cars are now lighter with the removal of hybrid units, and Hankook tyres have replaced Pirelli, which has challenged even champions like Rovanperä. “Kimi is fast, but he can learn a lot with the new cars and tyres,” Rovanperä mused. However, he believes that Räikkönen’s experience in F1 and his natural driving skills will make him competitive on certain special stages, especially in Finland, where Räikkönen has always enjoyed the support of his home fans.