Two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä’s single seater journey will begin in January in New Zealand in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy at major Repco NextGen NZ Championship events.  

In a symbolic first step, he will join the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing-supported championship to begin a transformational process that the young star hopes will take him to the top level of circuit racing.

His addition to the field adds global star power to the Repco NextGen NZ Championship, which will play host to the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy at four events spanning the North and South Islands of New Zealand this January and early February.

The World Champion joins the likes of Supercars star Ryan Wood and a host of up-and-coming young international and Kiwi racing talent already confirmed amidst what is shaping as possibly one of the series strongest ever fields.

The 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy will race over four consecutive weekends with two rounds in New Zealand’s North Island and two in the South Island, including the concluding event of the 2026 season – the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park.

Speaking after confirming his retirement from rallying, the 25-year-old Finn made it clear he has his sights set on progressing towards the highest levels of single seaters, which will include the Japanese-based Super Formula category in 2026. 

“It has not been an easy choice by any means,” he explained. “I have already achieved so much in rallying and I have achieved those things at a young age. 

“It feels like the right timing to pursue my next dreams and challenges. We’ve been making some good plans to prepare the best ways possible so that I can make the most of this opportunity. I’m really looking forward to pushing myself in the world of single seater.”

His single seater circuit racing journey will begin with Hitech in the highly-regarded Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy.

All of the championship’s circuits are highly-respected for their challenging and unforgiving characteristics and are the perfect training ground to prepare drivers for northern hemisphere campaigns.

Rovanperä will compete in Japan’s Super Formula championship which begins in April 2026 at Motegi, just two months after his campaign in NZ concludes.

The NZ championship will be the good opportunity for Kalle to gain more experience of circuit racing, which has been limited to races in the Porsche GT3 Cup during 2024 when he enjoyed a year out from full-time rallying after winning back-to-back World Rally Championship titles in 2022 and 2023.

 He joined Toyota and the WRC’s top level aged just 19 in 2020 and during the following three years set new standards in the sport. He became the championship’s youngest-ever podium finisher, youngest-ever rally winner and then youngest-ever world champion when he clinched his first title at Rally New Zealand the day after his 22nd birthday.

The Repco NextGen NZ Championship launched its second season at the Alliances Services Hampton Downs International in early November with a blockbuster event that included the GT World Challenge and GT4 Categories from Australia.

Rovanpera’s debut will come at the second round of the championship back at Hampton Downs, the Allied Petroleum Hampton Downs International set for January 9-11.

He will then be in action at the Giltrap Group Taupo Historic GP (January 16-18), the Ascot Park Teretonga Park International (January 23-25) and the NAPA 70th New Zealand Grand Prix (January 30-February 1).

Fans will be able to follow Kalle’s progress in the championship throughout January via the Repco NextGen NZ’s extensive broadcast package secured for this season.

Broadcast coverage will be available on SkySport NZ and Fox Sports / Kayo in Australia, with live streaming coverage on the Repco NextGen NZ YouTube Channel.

All Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy qualifying sessions and races will also be broadcast on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing YouTube Channel and motorsport.TV.