The reigning world champion squad has introduced that it’s going to area each of its part-time crews in the identical occasion for the primary time this season, on Portugal’s gravel roads from 9-12 Could.
Two-time world champion Rovanpera and eight-time WRC title winner Ogier will pilot GR Yaris Rally1 automobiles alongside full-timers Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta.
Toyota has up to now opted to separate the season between its part-time drivers, with Ogier kicking off the 12 months in Monte Carlo the place the Frenchman completed second behind Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville.
Ogier is about to return to the wheel in Croatia this week, an occasion he beforehand gained in 2021.
“I’ve loved my day without work since Monte-Carlo and now I am comfortable to get again into competitors,” mentioned Ogier.
“My take a look at final week was a superb probability to get my feeling again within the automobile, with fairly a demanding street: fairly quick with jumps and slender sections. These are options of the rally as nicely, however we additionally know that the climate could be unsure presently of 12 months.
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photograph by: Toyota Racing
“We do not have the perfect beginning place for an asphalt rally, so we’ll must assess the circumstances and see what we will do.
“My foremost motivation is all the time to succeed in the rostrum and combat for victory, however I am additionally right here to assist the group, and with the brand new factors system we will see that Sundays are additionally now extra vital than ever.”
Ogier returns to the Toyota group after sitting out rounds in Sweden and Kenya the place Rovanpera took the wheel of the third manufacturing facility GR Yaris. Rovanpera crashed out of Sweden however bounced again to assert his twelfth profession WRC victory on the Safari Rally as Toyota scored a 1-2 with Katsuta in second.
Portugal will mark Rovanpera’s third spherical of the 12 months along with his WRC schedule past that but to be decided. It’s thought doubtless that he’ll contest the WRC’s inaugural go to to Latvia in July and his residence spherical in Finland in August.