High praise for Kalle Rovanperä: “He’s getting better all the time at breakneck speed”

Rally world champion Kalle Rovanperän career with track cars has really started, and the positions in the Oceania formula series are on the rise. But what does the main goal of the season, the Japanese Super Formula series, look like based on the performances?

He has had a long career in track racing and has also appeared as an F1 expert on television Toni Vilander sees the development curve as promising. He reminds us of the special quality of Rovanperä, but also spoons ice into the caps of formula fans.

“There is a lot to be expected, but Kalle is going along a fairly normal development curve. These races are of great importance before the start of the Japanese formula season. You get starts and experience, and your skills are improving all the time,” Vilander analyzed.

Rovanperä’s rankings in the races run so far are 17, 12, 13, suspension, 16, 10, 12, 9. There have been two race weekends, and the second weekend that started with four races already brought two positions in the top ten.

Vilander reminds that young and talented top-level European drivers drive in the series. The difference to the top has varied from just over half a second to just over a second per lap.

“Such a second difference is quite normal if the driving is at a good level. The final improvements come through experience.”

If success comes already this season, it would be a really big bang.

Rovanperä starts every race from a long way back in the sense that his experience in track driving pales in comparison to his competitors. A lot of development has to come if the rally champion is going to achieve his dream of the formula king class.

“Determining development is a pretty cool thing. Sometimes you develop during rest or between races. The race weekend is so fast-paced that the development can be a bit limited.”

“In addition to learning the track, honing your driving technique takes time. The more weekends you get, the better it (driving) even between them. The next time you jump in the car, it feels a little more at home and a new normal.”

Rovanperen as teammates in the Hitech TGR team, Japanese people drive Kanato Le and Jin Nakamura and Irish Fionn McLaughlin. Le and Nakamura are 2nd and 4th in the series, and McLaughlin is a step ahead of Rovanperä in 14th place.

However, Vilander would not especially compare team mates when you want to follow Rovanperä’s development.

“I would compare the difference to the top in practice, qualifying and races, if there hasn’t been, for example, a safety car to neutralize the difference. I wouldn’t really compare it to anything else.”

In the races, the difference to the winner has generally been more than 30 seconds. Momentary successes have been seen, but overall, Rovanperä has not kept up with the top speed.

And the competition is only getting tougher.

There are two race weekends left in the Oceania series, and the Japanese Super Formula series starts at the beginning of April.

“They are tough cars, really fast in the corners. They are not to be underestimated at all. There are also really good drivers.”

“If there is success already this season, it would be a really big bang. If Kalle is in other places than right there at the end of the hose, then I already consider it a success.”

Rovanperä has stated that his goal is to drive the F2 series in the 2027 season. His dream is the biggest and most beautiful, that is, F1. Vilander emphasizes that there will be enough challenges in the near future as well.

“We know that Kalle is a miracle worker and a miracle man, but if he is able to win outright, then the question arises what the other drivers are up to.”

“I would give it a season or two. If you want Formula One, then the top five must be so that we can talk about F1 tests, the position of test driver or possibly the position of race driver one day.”