The 2023 FIA World Rally Championship produced one of its most talked-about calendar additions in round 12: the Central European Rally, run across tarmac stages in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic from 26 to 29 October. IXO Models captures that precise moment in die-cast at 1:43, replicating car No. 69 as it appeared under Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT colours throughout that weekend.
The GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid: Toyota's WRC Weapon Since 2022
Homologated under the FIA's Rally1 Hybrid regulations introduced for the 2022 season, the GR Yaris Rally1 shares its bodyshell with the Toyota GR Yaris road car and pairs a 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine with a 100 kW Compact Dynamics electric motor. Combined system output reaches around 500 hp, with a minimum weight of 1,260 kg and rear-biased all-wheel drive. A full roll cage, sequential gearbox and adjustable suspension complete the conversion from road car to WRC contender.
No. 69 at a Brand-New Round: Central European Rally 2023
Kalle Rovanpera entered the 2023 season as defending WRC champion, having taken the title in 2022 at the age of 22 — the youngest driver ever to do so. Running No. 69 alongside teammates Sébastien Ogier (No. 17) and Elfyn Evans (No. 33), Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen lined up for the inaugural Central European Rally. They finished 2nd overall behind winner Ogier and Landais — a result that underlined Toyota's dominance on the new tarmac event while adding a historically significant debut to Rovanpera's résumé. He would go on to finish 6th in the 2023 standings before announcing a sabbatical from full-time competition.
IXO Models at 1:43: Die-Cast Precision in the RAM Series
IXO Models, a French-owned die-cast manufacturer, has built its RAM series around rally and motorsport subjects at 1:43. This release reproduces the standard 2023 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT livery: predominantly white bodywork with red and black Toyota, GR and Gazoo Racing graphics, and the No. 69 race number prominent on doors and bonnet. The material is die-cast metal, offering the weight and finish detail that characterises IXO's 1:43 rally catalogue.
In the Display Cabinet
This model sits naturally alongside other IXO RAM series WRC 2023 releases — the No. 17 Ogier/Landais GR Yaris from the same Central European Rally being the most direct companion piece. Collectors building a Rovanpera retrospective will want to pair it with earlier No. 69 subjects from the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Those focused on the hybrid WRC era will find it pairs well with Hyundai i20 N Rally1 rivals from 2023, creating a credible representation of the competitive field that defined the regulation change.
Frequently asked questions
What is the scale of this IXO model?
It is a 1:43 scale die-cast metal model, part of the IXO RAM rally series.
What result does this model represent?
Kalle Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen finished 2nd overall at the 2023 WRC Central European Rally, behind winner Sébastien Ogier.
Was the Central European Rally a new event?
Yes. It debuted on the WRC calendar in 2023 as round 12, run on tarmac across Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic in October 2023.
Who is Kalle Rovanpera?
Rovanpera is a Finnish rally driver who won the 2022 WRC Drivers' Championship at age 22, making him the youngest world rally champion in history. He competed the full 2023 season with Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT before taking a sabbatical.
