The 2025 World Rally Championship has started with a bang, and one name stands out above the rest: Kalle Rovanperä. Since the opening round in Monte Carlo, the Finn has shown why he is the undisputed star of the series. When six top drivers were asked who deserves to win the 2025 World Championship, the answer was unanimous: “Kalle Rovanperä of course.” This unanimity, reported by sources in Iltalehti and Yle Urheilu, reflects Rovanperä’s dominant position in the sport, where his driving skills and ability to adapt to challenging conditions are second to none. In 2025, Rovanperä is on his way to his third World Championship, and his competitors recognize his superiority.

The season began in Monte Carlo in January, and Rovanperä has since strengthened his grip on the championship. At the Canary Islands Rally, he set a staggering 12 consecutive fastest times, crushing his opponents’ hopes of winning the overall championship. According to Iltalehti, Rovanperä’s performance was so convincing that he moved up to second place in the World Championship, and experts predict that he will overtake teammate Elfyn Evans before Rally Finland in August. Evans leads the series with 118 points, but Rovanperä is only 30 points behind, and the gravel rallies series – his strongest platform – is only just beginning. The Sardinian Rally, which took place from 5 to 8 June, once again showed his ability to avoid mistakes and grab important points, even though Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tänak took the top spots on the special stages.

Rovanperä’s success is not based solely on raw speed. His ability to master difficult conditions such as rain, mud and slippery roads has made him a feared opponent. Yle Urheilu’s analysis emphasizes that Rovanperä’s strength is his ability to adapt and keep a cool head, which has elevated him to the ranks of legends, as Yle Urheilu’s Micke Suopuro wrote. The seamless cooperation between Rovanperä and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen is also key. According to Iltalehti, their friendship and mutual trust allow them to take risks, which often lead to victories.

The consensus among competitors that Rovanperä deserves the championship is not surprising. Thierry Neuville, the reigning champion, and Ott Tänak, both Hyundai drivers, acknowledge that Rovanperä’s driving skills are in a class of their own. Tänak, who won the 2024 Rally Sardinia, has said that competing with Rovanperä is “a real challenge” because the Finn is “so fast and flawless.” Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier, the eight-time world champion, have also praised Rovanperä’s ability to dominate races from start to finish. Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari, Toyota’s other drivers, consider Rovanperä to be a role model, especially for his ability to excel on gravel, the main surface on the 2025 calendar.

Rovanperä’s dominance is particularly notable given the challenges of the World Rally Championship. Hyundai has struggled with technical issues, and Iltalehti reports that the team’s motivation may be waning, while M-Sport’s resources are insufficient to challenge Toyota and Hyundai’s top speed. Rovanperä’s performances, such as his victories in Portugal in 2022 and 2023, demonstrate his ability to utilize Toyota’s reliable car and the “snorkeled” Yaris, which is designed to cope with demanding conditions, such as the “fesh-fesh” sand of the Kenyan Safari Rally. Henri Haapamäki, co-driver of Esapekka Lapland, named Rovanperä as the number one favorite for the Safari Rally in Yle Urheilu precisely because of his ability to handle unpredictable conditions.

Although Rovanperä is the clear favorite to win the championship, the 2025 season is not without its excitement. New events such as the Canary Islands, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia will bring variety, and changes to the points system, which will reward the top ten and offer additional points from Power Stage special stages, will keep the competition alive. According to MTV News, Rovanperä has come into the season well-rested, but he must avoid mistakes like last year’s exit in Portugal. Fans will eagerly follow his performances on MTV Katsomo, and after the Sardinia Rally, expectations are high for the gravel rallies in Greece and Estonia. Rovanperä’s name will likely be engraved on the championship trophy again, but his journey shows why he is the undisputed king of the rally world.