Two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanpera has revealed the reasons behind his surprising decision to swap the forests and gravel roads of rallying for the high-speed circuits of single-seater racing. The Finnish driver will embark on a new chapter in 2026, joining Japan’s Super Formula series under Toyota’s backing – a move he describes as both “a clear choice” and “something truly unique.”
Rovanpera’s announcement comes while he remains in contention for a third consecutive World Rally Championship title, with three rounds left in the season. Despite his ongoing success in rallying, the 25-year-old explained that his motivation stems from a desire to challenge himself at the highest level of motorsport.
“I think it has not been an easy choice by any means, but it was a clear choice for me,” Rovanpera said. “I put on my list the things I wanted to achieve in rallying, and I’ve done that at quite a young age. Now I’m ready for something new.”
The decision follows his growing interest in circuit racing over the past year. In 2023, Rovanpera made his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and even tested an older-generation Red Bull Formula 1 car at the Red Bull Ring, experiences that fueled his desire to pursue a different kind of racing challenge.
Next season, Rovanpera will make the leap into Japan’s Super Formula – widely regarded as one of the fastest single-seater series outside of Formula 1 – where he will compete for at least two seasons. “I’m going straight into the deep end,” he admitted. “There’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m ready for it.”
Rovanpera sees his shift not as a step away from success, but as a new form of evolution.
“We have the chance to do something really unique that nobody has ever done before,” he said. “That’s one of the biggest motivations – to try something that maybe nobody else has done.”
While some have speculated that frustrations with the current state of the WRC might have influenced his decision, Rovanpera was quick to dismiss that idea. He emphasized that his move has nothing to do with the sport’s ongoing challenges, including tire changes and technical adjustments. “I wouldn’t say this season or anything from the rallying side affected the decision,” he clarified. “I still love rallying – it’s its own kind of art.”
Rovanpera’s focus now turns to mastering an entirely different discipline. He acknowledged that adapting to single-seaters will take time: “I’m basically starting from zero. It will take a long time to get up to speed and build my racecraft.” Still, he remains optimistic about his long-term goals, hinting that the ultimate aim could be a path toward Formula 1 or other major international competitions such as Le Mans.
“There’s no timeline for myself,” he said. “I’ll just focus on each season, work hard, and improve. If I bring the results, anything is possible.”
The move marks a rare transition in modern motorsport – few world rally champions have successfully crossed into high-level circuit racing. Yet with Toyota’s full support behind him, Rovanpera believes he has the tools and backing to make it work. “This kind of project wouldn’t be possible without manufacturer support,” he said.
At just 25 years old, Rovanpera still has time on his side. And while his immediate focus will be on adapting to Super Formula, he left the door open for a future return to rallying. “There’s a high chance I’ll be back on a WRC start line one day,” he said. “But for now, the plan is big, and it will take all my focus.”
As the motorsport world watches, Rovanpera’s move represents one of the most intriguing transitions in recent memory – a rally prodigy turning racer, trading dirt for tarmac in pursuit of a new kind of glory.