Difficult Start for Kalle Rovanperä at Suzuka Super Formula Test
Kalle Rovanperä endured a dramatic and challenging day during the official Super Formula test at Suzuka Circuit on Wednesday. The Japanese Super Formula pre-season test began in wet and demanding conditions, creating a tricky environment for all 24 participating drivers.
The two-time World Rally Champion was finally able to get properly up to speed in a Super Formula car after his previous test outing was cut short. However, the opening day at Suzuka once again proved far from straightforward.
Mechanical Issues and Limited Morning Running
Driving for KCMG, Rovanperä faced early setbacks when a mechanical problem struck his car shortly after the morning session began. The issue forced his team into the garage for over an hour of repairs, severely limiting his track time.
When he eventually returned to the circuit, further interruptions followed. Red flags repeatedly halted the session due to incidents elsewhere on the rain-soaked track. As a result, Rovanperä managed just eight laps in the morning and failed to complete a single flying lap.
This marked another frustrating chapter after his December test was curtailed by positional vertigo, preventing him from gaining meaningful experience in the highly competitive Japanese single-seater series.
Heavy Crash for Luke Browning Halts Afternoon Session
The afternoon session initially offered more promise. Rovanperä completed 21 laps and began building valuable mileage in wet conditions before another major interruption stopped the action.
British driver Luke Browning suffered a heavy crash after losing control on the soaked circuit. The former Formula 2 competitor went airborne before his car landed upside down at the side of the track following high-speed contact with the tyre barriers.
The red flags were shown for approximately 30 minutes while marshals cleared the scene. Fortunately, reports confirmed that Browning escaped the dramatic accident without serious injuries.
More Red Flags as Rovanperä Spins Late On
Following the lengthy stoppage, drivers were granted additional time to continue testing. In the final 15 minutes, Rovanperä returned to the circuit and added three more laps to his tally. He was not focused on improving his lap time but rather on gaining experience and data in challenging conditions.
However, the Finn’s day ended with another red flag incident when he spun off and became stuck in the gravel, bringing the session to a premature close.
Session Results and Lap Times
Despite the setbacks, Rovanperä accumulated valuable track time in the afternoon and finished 19th overall. His best lap of 1:50.564 left him 3.460 seconds behind session leader Ren Sato.
With 24 drivers participating in the Suzuka test, the competitive field ensured that every lap counted — particularly for a driver still adapting to the demands of Super Formula machinery.
Dry Conditions Expected for Day Two
The Super Formula test continues at Suzuka on Thursday with two additional two-hour sessions scheduled. Sunshine is forecast, offering Rovanperä and the rest of the field a crucial opportunity to evaluate their cars in dry conditions.
For Rovanperä, improved weather could be key to unlocking performance and gaining the consistency he was denied on an incident-packed opening day.
As the Finnish star continues his transition from rally dominance to single-seater competition, every session at Suzuka represents another important step in his development within Japan’s top-tier formula racing series.
