Kalle Rovanperä’s contract situation is ready for publication.
Rally manager Timo Jouhki can’t bear to go all the way to Japan to see his protégé Kalle Rovanperän end of the season.
– I hardly go to long-distance races anymore. I’m old enough that I don’t mind taking a time difference of less than a week. It’s a bit heavy, 72-year-old Jouhki admits.
Apart from that, Jouhki no longer has issues with Rovanperä. The next contract now depends on the release date, which is in the hands of the team.
It’s about Toyota, of course.
– I can’t comment on that other than that things have been agreed upon in principle. The team announces its own times, Jouhki confirms.
According to newspaper reports, Rovanperä’s new paper guarantees him an annual income of several million euros, on which the Monaco-based world champion pays virtually no income tax.
Jouhki does not reveal the exact amount, and it will not come up at the moment of the final announcement either. After all, there you will find out whether it is a two- or three-year commitment to the Japanese brand.
“The contract has no function”
Kalle Rovanperä is already securing a solid pension with his future super contract. Vesa Pöppönen / All Over Press
Rovanperä’s affairs are therefore already clear. The same cannot be said about the other Finnish driver in Jouhki’s team, i.e. Hyundai Teemu from Suni.
– I can say what has been in the public domain. (Thierry) For advice and (Ott) Thank you drive all season. And other drivers will drive part of the season. There is no more detailed information about it.
– We have a contract for next year as well, but it has no function if it doesn’t involve the Games. They have to be negotiated separately, and that situation is still open.
Jouhki follows the situation at least as closely as Suninen himself. Both would like the Hyundai pattern to be resolved as quickly as possible.
– I can’t say exactly, but it will be locked in the near future.
Is there a company?
Jouhki does not expect any big sports celebration from the final race in Japan. He fears that the decision of both championships earlier will inevitably inoculate the motivation of the top drivers.
– How much do different gentlemen want to try? But I do believe that at least Kalle is fully involved. However, it has also been in public that Kalle doesn’t particularly like those roads.
The first special stage of the World Rally Championship in Japan will be run around Toyota Stadium on Thursday from noon to noon Finnish time.