There have been plenty of examples through history of top-level motorsport competitors dabbling between disciplines, and now Kalle Rovanperä can be added to the list in striking fashion.
Rovanperä, 25, set a string of “youngest-ever” records in the World Rally Championship, including the youngest podium finisher, event winner, and World Champion.
Rovanperä won back-to-back titles in 2022-23, and has won 17 WRC events in his career, but on Thursday revealed that he will be leaving rallying at the end of 2025.
Instead, Rovanperä will compete in Japan’s Super Formula championship in 2026, with the support of Toyota, for whom he has competed in WRC.
It is a high-level entry point for a competitor with limited circuit experience, with Super Formula’s SF23 among the fastest open-wheel machinery in global motorsport—lapping the high-speed Suzuka Circuit just nine seconds slower than Formula 1.
Rovanperä says a seat in Formula 2—the category below Formula 1—is his target for 2027.
Current four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou competed in Super Formula in 2019, finishing third overall as a rookie, which helped seal him a switch to IndyCar the following year.
“This decision has not been an easy one, but it’s one that I have been thinking about for a while,” Rovanperä said. “Having already achieved so much in rallying at this age, I started to think about what other possibilities I might have and what other challenges I would like to take on.
“It has been a tough decision, but it feels like the right one to pursue my next dreams and challenges. It’s special to have the support of Toyota Gazoo Racing from the start of this new challenge and to be able to race in Super Formula.
“I know that it’s jumping straight into the deep end, coming from rallying, but I’m really looking forward to it and together with TGR we have a good plan to prepare in the best way possible and to try and make the most of it.”
TGR team boss Jari-Matti Latvala praised Rovanperä, who is still in the hunt for a third WRC title, for the decision.
“Given he has achieved so much and is still so young, it’s only natural that he would want to go for another challenge while he is able to do so,” Latvala said.
“We’ve seen racing drivers come and try rallying, but very rarely have we seen it the other way around: that a rally driver goes to circuit racing and tries to challenge the best, especially not in single-seater racing.”
