Kalle Rovanpera’s Super Formula Dreams Crushed by Sudden Illness!
In a shocking twist that has sent ripples through the motorsport world, Kalle Rovanpera, the two-time World Rally Champion, has had to withdraw from the much-anticipated Super Formula test at Suzuka after just a single session. This unexpected setback occurred as Rovanpera aimed to transition into the fast-paced realm of single-seater racing, marking his debut in the highly competitive Japanese series.
On Wednesday, Rovanpera hit the track with the KCMG team, clocking in 32 laps during the morning session. However, what began as a promising day quickly spiraled into disappointment. As the session progressed, Rovanpera began to feel unwell, ultimately leading to his complete withdrawal from the afternoon run. KCMG’s team principal, Ryuji Doi, initially held out hope for his return, stating that Rovanpera was resting in an attempt to rejoin the action on Thursday and Friday.
But the situation took a sharp turn later that evening when Rovanpera himself took to Instagram, revealing the extent of his health troubles. He disclosed that he had experienced symptoms of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a condition that severely impacts balance and vision due to disturbances in the inner ear. “I got [a] ban from the doctor to drive this week. Really disappointed as we didn’t have any chance to do any proper driving other than our aero test this morning,” Rovanpera lamented, expressing his frustration at missing out on the crucial opportunity to gather data in his new racing environment.
Despite the challenges, Rovanpera’s morning performance saw him clock in a time just 7.173 seconds behind the pace set by Nakajima Racing’s Igor Fraga, who dominated the timesheets with a blistering best of 1m37.158s. The young star’s focus during the test was more on data collection than on chasing lap times, a strategy that Rovanpera will need to revisit once he’s back on track.
With Rovanpera sidelined, KCMG has yet to announce who will step into his place for the remaining days of testing, leaving fans and analysts eagerly awaiting updates. Meanwhile, Japanese F4 champion Tokiya Suzuki is set to take over another car on the final day of the test, adding to the intrigue surrounding this pivotal event.
Looking ahead, Rovanpera’s next chance to showcase his skills in the KCMG Dallara-Toyota will come during pre-season testing next February at Suzuka. However, before he can get back behind the wheel of a single-seater, he will focus on competing in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship with Hitech, thanks to a strategic partnership with KCMG.
As the Suzuka testing continues, the motorsport community watches closely, especially after former Alpine Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan’s day ended in disaster, crashing at the Degner Curve. With the stakes this high and the competition fierce, Rovanpera’s health setback adds a dramatic layer to an already thrilling narrative unfolding in Japanese racing.
Stay tuned as we follow Rovanpera’s recovery and his future endeavors in the high-octane world of motorsport!
