Kalle Rovanpera has completed his first outing in a Formula 2 car as the two-time World Rally champion gears up to make the switch to single-seater racing next year.
Rovanpera announced plans for a bold career switch last month, which will see the Finn leave the World Rally Championship at the end of the season to embark on a circuit racing career in single-seaters.
The 25-year-old has confirmed plans to compete in Japan’s Super Formula series next year and is targeting a potential move to Formula 2 in 2027, with Formula 1 a long-term goal.
Rovanpera has now received his first taste of F2 machinery after posting pictures on social media, of himself driving a Hitech-prepared F2 car, featuring Toyota branding, ahead of next week’s WRC Rally Japan.
Rovanpera’s previous single-seater mileage came during an event at the Red Bull Ring last year when he drove Formula 4 and Formula Renault 3.5 machinery before jumping in a Red Bull Racing RB8 F1 car.
“First F2 test done! Can be quite happy with the test days. We got some valuable seat time and finally a real feeling with the car. Next week it’s time for Rally Japan,» Rovanpera posted on social media.
Speaking ahead of his victory at the Central European Rally earlier this month, Rovanpera revealed that he was yet to test a Super Formula car but is planning to get behind the wheel soon.
The Finn also explained the rationale behind making the leap to Super Formula instead of the more conventional route from Formula 3 up through the feeder series to F1.
“I think the point was we can build the best schedule like this [with Super Formula],» said Rovanpera when asked by Motorsport.com.
“Obviously, Super Formula is a much faster car than Formula 3 — so the step will be even bigger and more difficult for me. But also, at the same time, when being in a faster car I can get used to the higher speeds and used to the G-forces and stuff. We only have seven race weekends in Super Formula, so it is quite good I can still test a lot and that way it is a good way to start.»
«The plan is to drive the Super Formula season and then we will be testing as much as we can in Europe and on the GP tracks to get as much experience as possible.
«Obviously nothing is sure yet what we will do after next year, it depends how everything goes and if it goes well then that [F2] will be the plan to go forward with.»
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