Kalle Rovanperä, the young Finnish rally champion, faced significant challenges during the Super Formula tests at Suzuka, which were hindered by mixed weather conditions. On Wednesday, the track was wet, complicating the test sessions, and while Rovanperä did gain experience in the rain, he found himself at the bottom of the results list, finishing last among the 23 drivers in one session and 19th in another. His performance reflects the difficulties he faces as he transitions to a new and much more powerful type of racing vehicle.

Timo Jouhki, Rovanperä's manager, acknowledged the steep learning curve associated with driving the Super Formula car, emphasizing that starting at this competitive level poses its own unique challenges, especially for a driver new to such high-performance machinery. He stressed that the initial tests, particularly with inclement weather, were less than ideal for Rovanperä’s preparation, making it even more difficult to gauge his progression and performance amidst these testing conditions.

Despite the early setbacks, Rovanperä managed to improve his results throughout the test sessions, demonstrating some capacity to adapt despite the tough circumstances. The overall situation underlines the importance of giving ample time for drivers transitioning to different racing formats to adjust, as well as the critical nature of favorable conditions during initial tests in order to extract optimal performance from the car and driver alike.