Leaving a legacy: Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak set for WRC exit

Rally Saudi Arabia is the last throw of the dice in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season, and for two drivers in particular the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could witness their last dance in the WRC. Toyota driver Kalle Rovanperä and Hyundai star Ott Tänak are set to step into a Rally1 car for perhaps the last time - leaving behind an incredible legacy in the sport between them with 39 wins and three titles combined.

The 2019 world champion Ott Tänak began his rallying exploits in 2001 in Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco models in his native Estonia. Building pace and building momentum up the ranks, a young Tänak was scouted by fellow countryman Markko Martin -  the first WRC star to come from the Baltic nation. In 2008, Ott would drive for Martin in the Estonian Rally Cup - and the reward was the title at the end of the year. It all led to opportunities with M-Sport in the WRC. Team boss Malcolm Wilson saw something in him providing opportunities a plenty, but solid results were also met with frustrating retirements and Ott was benched back in the National series for 2013. Rebuilding and showing his worth, the Estonian hard charger plugged his way back to the big time landing a drive with M-Sport again in 2015, with that first win coming in 2017 on his way to third in the standings.

In a shock move, Ott left his home of M-Sport for Toyota in 2018 and for two years the Japanese team and the Estonian were a formidable force. Twelve wins in two seasons and the title in 2019 made him the man of the moment. A switch to Hyundai that nobody saw coming in 2020 would see him gather a further seven wins in five seasons. However, he just had to have one more stint at M-Sport. In a lone year in 2023, he would bag the last two victories for the British concern and the last win for the Puma in the WRC.

The steely eyed, quick witted Estonian is about to hang up his helmet after this weekend. For good - probably not, but we will see Tänak at a slower pace in 2026 as he looks to spend more time with his family. It’s not goodbye, it’s just a farewell for Ott. 

Kalle Rovanperä, on the other hand, was trained and taught from a very young age - he was drifting Toyota Starlets in Finland before he was 10! The son of WRC event winner Harri Rovanperä, it was a matter of when not if he would ever make it to the WRC - there was a fast track career in place. Starting his driving in Latvia and Finland, the young Finn cut his teeth in a variety of cars. Front, rear, four-wheel-drive, you name it. In 2018 he was signed by Skoda to join their attack for the WRC2 title - finishing third in his debut season at just 17 years of age. A year later he would win the title and a drive for Toyota with the big time beckoning. Driving for one of the biggest brands on the planet at 19! Nerves of steel! But for the young Finn it was all part of the road map. 

His first outright podium came after just two events, his first win on his 13th rally in the car and his first title in his third season - the boy was just breaking records and hitting stats out of the park. But at what price? Following his second title at the end of 2023 - Rovanperä elected for a part-campaign in 2024. Exhaustion, needing a reset, wanting to pursue other things like drifting were solely on the mind. Despite coming back in 2025, his heart you could tell was not fully in it. He had achieved what he wanted - a WRC world title before he was in his mid twenties. The motivation for new challenges burning bright. The Japanese Super Formula single-seater series awaits in 2026 with eyes on Formula 2 as soon as possible.

Could a shot at F1 be possible? If he takes to circuit racing like he did rallying - anything is possible! Could the first rally driver to F1 happen? Kalle is the best bet.

We hope drivers have an incredibly successful final rally and we will miss their characters from the sport. But rallying is in their blood. They will be back in one shape or another in the future! That is for sure.

Watch WRC on DAZN

Follow all the action from the FIA World Rally Championship finale LIVE this weekend from Rally Saudi Arabia - 26th -29th November. The title gets decided right here, right now. The 2025 World Rally Championship is available through DAZN on its own dedicated app channel,  Rally TV. It is available either as a dedicated Rally TV subscription, or as part of your existing DAZN subscription for a small add-on fee.

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Watch every WRC and ERC rally this year on DAZN's 24-hour dedicated Rally TV channel. For more information on prices, subscriptions and more, click here.