Toyota has shed further light on the decision to withdraw Kalle Rovanpera from Super Formula this season amid ongoing medical issues for the two-time World Rally champion.
It was announced earlier this month that Rovanpera will not participate in the Japanese series for the KCMG team as originally planned, as part of a bid to reach the highest level of single-seater racing, following a recent medical evaluation.
The Finnish driver’s preparations for Super Formula were disrupted by the onset of Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a disorder of the inner ear, that forced him to miss most of last December’s pre-season test at Suzuka.
However, he raced in the Formula Regional Oceania championship in January and completed Super Formula’s pre-season test at Suzuka in late February without issues, albeit finishing bottom of the timesheets.
Speaking to Autosport ahead of this weekend’s opening round of the season at Motegi, Toyota’s global motorsport director Masaya Kaji said the decision was made not only in light of medical advice but also the compromised nature of Rovanpera’s preparations.
“The decision was strongly led by Morizo-san [Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda], who took responsibility for making the call,” Kaji told Autosport. “It was a difficult decision for everyone involved, but ultimately it was made under his leadership with a clear sense of accountability. But at this level, there is no sense in taking part in the races without the proper preparation.
“Once Kalle is fully prepared, both physically and mentally, then we will take on the next challenge together. It’s true that his preparation time was shorter than ideal this time, but I think he’ll be able to prepare properly for the next chance.”
Kalle Rovanpera, Kids com Team KCMG
Photo by: Masahide Kamio
Kaji underlined the importance of Rovanpera having adequate time to fully adjust when asked why his entire season was pre-emptively cancelled instead of just the opening weekend at Motegi, where Seita Nonaka will deputise at KCMG.
“We planned many different scenarios, but the biggest problem is that if he is resting, then he can’t prepare himself,” said Kaji. “For now, we have to respect what the doctors say and give him plenty of time to rest and recover.”
Kaji added that Rovanpera’s eventual return to single-seater competition could either take the form of a second attempt at Super Formula or in an alternative category further down the ladder.
“There are various possibilities for the next step,” he said. “We’ll see how things progress and then we will make that decision together at a later stage.”
Toyota: Doohan never considered Super Formula a “priority”
Rovanpera is not the only high-profile driver missing from this year’s Super Formula grid, as ex-Formula 1 driver Jack Doohan was also set to participate with Kondo Racing until backing out of a deal with the Toyota-powered team at the eleventh hour.
The Australian, who subsequently signed as Haas F1 reserve driver, took part in last December’s post-season test at Suzuka but suffered a series of high-profile crashes at Degner Curve, one of each of the three days of running.
Reflecting on the situation, Kaji played down the importance of the crashes, instead saying that he never felt a strong desire from the outset from Doohan to race in Japan.
Jack Doohan, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
“His target was always F1,” said Kaji. “Becoming a Toyota [works] driver may have been an option for us, but my feeling was that Super Formula was not a major priority for him.
“Of course, there were crashes in the test, but Kondo Racing was not upset at all by the crashes, and they were preparing to support him.
“I think he had some doubts over the best course of action. Budgets were also a factor, of course, and many other things. But I don’t think he ever had the intention of only doing Super Formula, and he had to work out his priority.
“I don’t think the crashes at Degner were the reason he made that decision. I don’t think you would decide purely on that.”
Kaji also didn’t dismiss the possibility of Doohan joining Toyota in some capacity in the future amid the marque’s technical partnership with Haas in F1.
“There’s still a chance we could work together in future, and it’s also not to say that we don’t have a good relationship currently,” he said. “It’s not a negative situation.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
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