Kalle Rovanpera’s debut in single-seater racing did not go as planned, ending in a crash during the final race after three lackluster performances.
During the opening round of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in New Zealand, the two-time rally world champion finished no better than 12th in four races and failed to finish the last race entirely.
Kalle Rovanpera’s Struggles in His Single-Seater Debut
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The event took place at Hampton Downs, marking Rovanpera’s first foray into single-seater racing ahead of a season in Super Formula in Japan.
Over the next month, the 25-year-old will compete with various local and international young talents.
The Formula Regional Oceania, previously called the Toyota Racing Series, has been rebranded to align with similar global categories and serves as an off-season training ground.
A Competitive Environment to Build Experience
The cars, which are a level below Formula 3, allow for valuable track time during a period where racing opportunities are scarce, providing a low-pressure introduction for Rovanpera as he transitions to a new discipline for 2026.
His preparation took a hit before Christmas due to dizziness, later diagnosed as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, which led to his absence from Super Formula testing.
Race Weekend Summary
After recovering, Rovanpera participated in a pre-event practice on Thursday, followed by three practice sessions on Friday and a qualifying session on Saturday morning.
This qualified him 16th for the first race, but he slid to 17th during the 18-lap event. Starting 17th in Race 2, he climbed to 12th, even breaking into the top 10 at one point.
Challenges and Setbacks
In Sunday’s qualifying, he showed potential, briefly ranking sixth before finishing in ninth place, ahead of Ryan Wood, who had topped two practice sessions. However, during Race 3, Rovanpera made strides to finish in 13th after starting in 18th.
Ugo Ugochukwu, a former McLaren junior, claimed his first series win, while Rovanpera faced early misfortune in the Feature race, crashing out on the opening lap after making contact with another driver.
Learning Experience
“I started from 18th and managed to finish P13 after battling well and benefiting from some penalties,” Rovanpera shared on social media. “Unfortunately, my race ended on the first lap in the Feature race after a collision. Thankfully, all drivers involved are safe, which is the most critical part.”
Despite the setbacks, he expressed optimism about gaining valuable experience and looks forward to improving as the series heads to Taupo for the next round of races this weekend.
