– Toyota has announced further details regarding the decision to withdraw Kalle Rovanperä for the current Super Formula season. The background is ongoing medical issues of the two-time WRC champion.
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Earlier this month, it leaked that Rovanperä would not be competing for the KCMG team in the Japanese top series as originally planned. The engagement was actually intended to expand his driving repertoire at the highest level of formula racing. However, following a recent medical examination, the plug was pulled.
The Finn’s preparation was massively disrupted by the occurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This inner ear disorder had already forced him to miss the majority of the test sessions in Suzuka last December.
Although he competed in the Formula Regional Oceania in January and also completed the Super Formula test in Suzuka at the end of February without direct incidents, albeit only at the bottom of the timesheets, it was not enough for a full season.
A final word from Akio Toyoda
Speaking to Autosport, Masaya Kaji, Toyota’s global motorsport director, explained on the sidelines of the season opener in Motegi that the decision was not only based on medical advice but also on the fact that Rovanperä’s preparation was simply not sufficient.
“The decision was significantly driven by Morizo-san [Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda], who took responsibility for this call,” said Kaji. “It was a difficult decision for everyone involved, but ultimately it was made under his leadership with a clear sense of responsibility. At this level, it makes no sense to participate in races without the proper preparation.”
Kaji emphasizes: “As soon as Kalle is fully ready physically and mentally, we will tackle the next challenge together. It is true that his preparation time this time was shorter than ideal, but I think he will be able to prepare properly for the next opportunity.”
Why the complete cancellation?
When asked why the entire season was cancelled rather than just the opener in Motegi (where Seita Nonaka is stepping in at KCMG), Kaji pointed to the necessary recovery process: “We played through many scenarios, but the biggest problem is: if he needs to rest, he cannot prepare. We must respect what the doctors say and give him sufficient time to recover.”
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Whether Rovanperä will return to Super Formula for a second attempt or find a place in another formula racing category, Kaji left open: “There are various possibilities for the next step. We will see how it progresses and make the decision together at a later date.”
Toyota: Super Formula not a “priority” for Jack Doohan
Rovanperä is not the only prominent name missing from the grid. Former Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan was also originally supposed to start for the Toyota-powered Kondo Racing team, but pulled out at the last moment.
The Australian, who has since signed as a reserve driver for Haas, did participate in the test in Suzuka in December, but made headlines there with a series of heavy accidents in the Degner curve – one on each of the three test days.
However, Kaji downplays the significance of the crashes. Rather, he felt no real fire for Japan from Doohan from the start. “His goal was always Formula 1,” Kaji clarifies. “Becoming a Toyota factory driver would have been an option, but my feeling was that Super Formula was not a priority for him.”
Crashes were not the reason for the split
Kondo Racing was by no means upset about the accidents and would have supported Doohan. Kaji suspects other reasons for the exit: “I think he had doubts about what the best path for him was. Budgets naturally played a role as well. But I don’t believe he ever had the intention of driving exclusively in Super Formula. The accidents at Degner were certainly not the decisive reason.”
Despite the cancellation, the bridge between Toyota and Doohan has not been burned – especially against the background of the technical partnership between Toyota and Haas in Formula 1. “There is still a chance that we will work together in the future,” Kaji concludes. “It is not a negative situation.”
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