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Former F1 driver Kovalainen to undergo open-heart surgery
Heikki Kovalainen has decided to temporarily step back from competing in rallying due to being diagnosed with ascending aortic aneurysm, a condition that poses a risk of aortic rupture despite him currently not experiencing any symptoms. Kovalainen was set to return to the Japanese Rally Championship in 2024 with Rally Team AICELLO, but will now undergo surgery to address the medical issue. The team announced that Katsuhiko Taguchi will replace Kovalainen in the line-up for the upcoming Rally Mikana, while they continue to support Kovalainen’s recovery and eventual return to rallying. Kovalainen expressed his intention to undergo open-heart surgery in Finland and hopes to resume rallying once he has recovered. His team and fans have shown understanding and support for his decision, as Kovalainen aims to overcome this health challenge and make a comeback to competitive racing.
