Kalle Rovanperä, the Finnish star, faced significant challenges during the Super Formula tests held in Japan. On Wednesday morning, he finished as the slowest driver in the first test session, managing only eight laps before his vehicle was sidelined in the garage due to technical problems. His performance did not improve significantly in the second session, where he ranked 19th among the 24 drivers, trailing the quickest competitor Ren Sato by nearly 3.5 seconds. This follows a disappointing outing in December, where Rovanperä also had to withdraw from tests due to installation issues.

The testing took place at Suzuka, where two two-hour sessions were conducted on a rain-soaked track. In the second session, where Rovanperä completed 24 laps, he faced further difficulties as he spun off towards the end, leading to a session halt. Teammate Kenta Yamashita also faced challenges, finishing 2.5 seconds behind Sato, illustrating a tough day for the KCMG team.

Rovanperä’s struggles raise concerns about his readiness for the upcoming Super Formula season. Technical challenges and slow times during testing can impact a driver’s confidence and momentum going into competitive races, potentially making it an uphill battle for him as he aims to find a competitive pace. The events in Japan could serve as a critical turning point for both Rovanperä and his team as they work to address these issues before the start of the season.