Illness Cuts Kalle Rovanpera’s Super Formula Test Short After One Session

Kalle Rovanpera leaves the Suzuka Super Formula post‑season test after one session on day one, sidelined by illness that compromises his balance and vision.

The two‑time World Rally champion completes 32 laps in KCMG’s #8 before withdrawing ahead of the afternoon running.

Doctors later diagnose Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, prompting guidance not to drive for the remainder of the three‑day test.

Rovanpera reports symptoms during the morning run, cutting short an aero programme designed to familiarise him with Super Formula’s high‑downforce package.

Initial expectations from team principal Ryuji Doi suggest a return on day two, but medical advice overrules those plans.

Against the day’s benchmark, Rovanpera’s best runs 7.173 seconds adrift of pacesetter Igor Fraga, who leads for Nakajima Racing with a 1m37.158s.

Fraga edges team‑mate Ren Sato by 0.160s, underlining Nakajima’s immediate baseline on long‑run and qualifying simulations.

Kenta Yamashita places third in KCMG’s sister entry, marking his first outing beyond the Kondo Racing structure.

KCMG has not confirmed who covers the remaining miles while Rovanpera recovers, complicating data collection across changing track conditions.

The setback arrives early in Rovanpera’s switch from rallying, but the brief running still supplies reference points on balance, braking maps, and tyre preparation.

Rovanpera intends to return for February’s Suzuka pre‑season running, while racing Formula Regional Oceania with Hitech to accelerate single‑seater adaptation.

Hitech’s partnership with KCMG enables shared engineering resources, aligning simulator work, setup methodology, and correlation efforts.

Elsewhere, former F1 driver Jack Doohan crashes at Degner during the afternoon session on his first Super Formula outing.

Doohan ends 21st on the times, clocking 1m39.683s, with Williams junior Luke Browning due to sample Kondo machinery on Thursday.

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