P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kalle Rovanperä sent shockwaves through the world of motorsport when he announced he was leaving the WRC to pursue circuit racing — and it did not take long for high-profile names from F1 to reach out, as he shared in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.
When Kalle Rovanperä announced he would be leaving the World Rally Championship at the end of the 2025 season to transition to circuit racing, his phone started ringing almost immediately due to the level of interest in his decision.
The two-time WRC drivers’ champion, at 25, is already well established in motorsport, making his move surprising but not unexpected given his credentials.
Rovanperä’s shift to circuit racing made headlines, as the switch from rallying to F1, a rarity, has not been successfully accomplished in modern history.
Despite the opportunity to drive an F1 car, predecessors like Colin McRae and Sébastien Loeb have not made the jump to F1, setting a unique challenge for Rovanperä.
His planned progression through Super Formula and Formula 2 in 2027 will blend two distinct disciplines, with support from Finnish racing legends like Mika Häkkinen and Kimi Räikkönen providing valuable insights.
Rovanperä acknowledged the rapid response from friends in motorsport, including Häkkinen, recognizing the significance of their collective knowledge in guiding his transition to the F1 world.
