Kalle Rovanpera - rallying's youngest champion

[RallySport Mag]

Kalle Rovanpera is a star of the future (and the present). He has already won the Latvian Championship and driven Toyota's 2017 World Rally Car.

Read Martin Holmes' latest article about the 15-year old.

http://www.rallysportmag.com.au/home/other-news/10787-kalle-rovanpera-rallying-youngest-champion

Will the youngster be World Rally Champion, and if so, at what age???

[pantealex]

He is 2wd champion from 2015, but not yet overall champion...

[electroliquid]

He is 2wd champion from 2015, but not yet overall champion...

This year he already have 20 points gap against Vorobjovs, and one event left, so if Kalle scores 0 and Vorobjovs scores max - 17 points, Kalle still be on top http://www.autorally.lv/files/s2016/overall-2016-7.pdf or it could be that last event points multiple x1,5, but I don't know that for sure

Edit: Yes You right, it's still posibility for Vorobjovs to be 1st overall.

[N.O.T]

Too much PR for the moment, we will see.

[COD]

Still too young to decide. Latvala was a wonderkid at 17, and still not a champion... And will probably never be

[Rallyper]

The only downside I see is that he has got driving rallycars together with babyfood. That makes him an advantage to other youngsters. One more thing is the development curve differs between drivers.
Looks very promising atm but still a couple of years to prove what he can do. However wishing him all good.
Like NOT said: we will see.

[Simmi]

Too much PR for the moment, we will see.

I agree with this - but at the same time it seems that rally fans are just as guilty when it comes to pushing this guy as the next big thing. Comparing his stage times, sharing videos etc. The fans are doing more than any PR team could ever do. It's certainly an interesting story because he's so young. Maybe he's the young Jedi being trained to take down Ogier in the future. I don't know but for sure they have got everyone's attention.


What is most interesting to me - and isn't covered in the article - is what their planned pathway is. You don't have a guy this young driving a top-line R5 car without having something mapped out for him in the future.

Does anyone know what his programme will be next year? And when he can do the Finnish championship, when he can do ERC/WRC etc?

[tolx]

If not mistaken, most of other championships are available from 17 or 18 years, so he will need to wait a bit.

[dupanton]

His age doesn't really count. He is 5 years a head of all the other drivers in terms of experience. That is the most important parameter to mesure his talent/speed/consistancy etc.

[Rally Power]

It seems there’s another young talent on the juveline rally scene…Marco Bulacia Jr, aged 15, is the 2016 Bolivian champ: http://www.diariomotor.com/competicion/2016/09/22/la-gran-esperanza-de-los-rallyes-bolivianos-tiene-15-anos-y-ya-es-campeon/

[janvanvurpa]

The only downside I see is that he has got driving rallycars together with babyfood. That makes him an advantage to other youngsters. One more thing is the development curve differs between drivers.
Looks very promising atm but still a couple of years to prove what he can do. However wishing him all good.
Like NOT said: we will see.


A factor I saw in my sport when I had wonderful opportunity to see many others who had everything handed to them on silver plate from -5-7-8 years old is they lacked what we call now and call it that even in educational circle--they lacked grit....

Something happens and they stop..
Some injury and they might--many did ,most even---quit.

Since no effort or serious cost by them to get on the track, then no deep investment like anybody here knows who has built and run a rally car..So something happens, they quit..No big loss.

Not suggesting this is what Kalle will do..
Only that this is what I observed in 40 years in motorsports .

[AndyRAC]

Reminds a little of Marc Marquez - talent was spotted from an early age, and with the right connections, and has had everything fall in place. So far....

It's likely if he was Austrian, British, Outer Mongolia, etc he'd still be undiscovered.....

[Rallyper]

However in Kalles case - he´s surrounded by many very experienced people, surely giving him the best advices. Even funding seems not be any problem. And why should it? So far.

[PLuto]

However in Kalles case - he´s surrounded by many very experienced people, surely giving him the best advices. Even funding seems not be any problem. And why should it? So far.

I am not sure that all advices from "very experienced people" must be the best ones...

[Rallyper]

I am not sure that all advices from "very experienced people" must be the best ones...

Well, maybe not all, but surely best way to make a career. And better be surrounded with people in the business than no people at all, trying start a career by your own...

[Lousada]

Wait until he starts getting interested in girls... Or when girls start getting interesting in him... Then we will see how much ambition, focus and determination he has...

[PLuto]

Well, maybe not all, but surely best way to make a career. And better be surrounded with people in the business than no people at all, trying start a career by your own...

In this situations you can find around drivers lot of "business people" whose interest is mainly to dig money. Or make "good advices" and show, that they are important persons and must be part of the team... But it looks like Harri is really clever man, so I hope they will be able to force out this type of people...

[pantealex]

In this situations you can find around drivers lot of "business people" whose interest is mainly to dig money. Or make "good advices" and show, that they are important persons and must be part of the team... But it looks like Harri is really clever man, so I hope they will be able to force out this type of people...

-Toni Gardemaister
-Tommi Mäkinen
-Timo Jouhki
(not officially)

[Rallyper]

In this situations you can find around drivers lot of "business people" whose interest is mainly to dig money. Or make "good advices" and show, that they are important persons and must be part of the team... But it looks like Harri is really clever man, so I hope they will be able to force out this type of people...

You forget he lives in Finland, not Italy or something.. excuse me italian friends.. ;)

[janvanvurpa]

Wait until he starts getting interested in girls... Or when girls start getting interesting in him... Then we will see how much ambition, focus and determination he has...


Oh how true it is... It was a deciding factor in my quitting International moto-cross..Living in a van from late march is one thing, not know where to wash clothes was a problem, bouncy bouncy fun that wasn't soooo bad, but a real solid relationship...that was a big problem...
So 2 seasons and that was it...but I was 30 so I lasted that far..

And--I was right..Had a lot more fun as a human being than as a racer. :love:

[Mk2 RS2000]

Wait until he starts getting interested in girls... Or when girls start getting interesting in him... Then we will see how much ambition, focus and determination he has...

So very true, there is insufficient blood in a young mans body to keep two heads functioning correctly.

[Essaj]

Time to lift this thread up.

Kalle has now won on snow, tarmac and gravel back-to-back-to-back and leads the championship by 46points!

[WRCStan]

Is there anybody out there who doesn't believe Kalle is yet an A-lister? ie one who goes into every event with the expectation to fight for a win. Many are electing him champion after all.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

He's the real deal now and proven on every surface and even with opening the road on dry gravel.

The rest need to learn to eat his dust.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FTX4MuMXoAEoEUA?format=jpg&name=large

[Danny0405]

One point to notice also about Kalle is it shows how the job done by Makinen was great.
He created a structure from scratch quite late after Toyota has changed its strategy, he made some controversial choices that globally worked (Latvala instead of Mikkelsen, Lappi instead of Suninen), installed a very good technical director (Fowler) and he prepared the future because he was the one who did the job to attract Rovanpera (giving him tests in the WRC car, clear decision from him to put him in 2020 that was known as soon as summer 2019).
Ok, some can say it was easy as he is Finnish and Rovanpera was obvious but apparently, it was not the case for Hyundai (I’m not talking about M-Sport which didn’t have the means to attract him on a long-term basis but have tried in 2017).

He suffered one blow (Tanak leaving) because of his personality that was covered by Toyota money to take Ogier and made one controversial choice that ended up as a mistake (Meeke) but globally, his job was excellent.

Trivia statistics: Kalle is already 10th in the rankings of Finnish with most WRC wins (but he will probably climbs a lot)

[240RS]

Looking down the season calendar, you can't help but notice that the events that supposedly favour Kalle are yet to come.

Estonia & Finland - Both virtually home events and you can expect he will be running very high up the order.
Kenya - Was primed to lead last year's event before the "fesh-fesh" disaster.
Greece - Won at a canter in 2021.
Belgium - Was best Toyota in impressive fashion last year.

The rest of the events aren't that much of a problem for him either. You would expect he will find the right pace in Italy, Spain, New Zealand and Japan.

Conclusion: Game over in 2022.

[SubaruNorway]

One point to notice also about Kalle is it shows how the job done by Makinen was great.
He created a structure from scratch quite late after Toyota has changed its strategy, he made some controversial choices that globally worked (Latvala instead of Mikkelsen, Lappi instead of Suninen), installed a very good technical director (Fowler) and he prepared the future because he was the one who did the job to attract Rovanpera (giving him tests in the WRC car, clear decision from him to put him in 2020 that was known as soon as summer 2019).
Ok, some can say it was easy as he is Finnish and Rovanpera was obvious but apparently, it was not the case for Hyundai (I’m not talking about M-Sport which didn’t have the means to attract him on a long-term basis but have tried in 2017).

He suffered one blow (Tanak leaving) because of his personality that was covered by Toyota money to take Ogier and made one controversial choice that ended up as a mistake (Meeke) but globally, his job was excellent.

Trivia statistics: Kalle is already 10th in the rankings of Finnish with most WRC wins (but he will probably climbs a lot)

It was actually Latvala who replaced Suninen in 17, talks about it on the WRC podcast

[Essaj]

Kalle Rovanperä The Youngest World Rally Champion!

[doubled1978]

Mighty impressive from the young fella.
Fully deserved, came through his sticky patch and did a brilliant job

[lmmjvss]

It was AWESOME to kinda follow this kid's carrer. From those weird clips of a what 8 y.o. kid drifting on ice to becoming a WORLD CHAMPION! Jeez, time passes like a bullet. Awesome! AWESOME

[Sal yet again]

We have got used to seeing old/family film of tennis and golf champions etc playing the sport from an age when they could barely hold the implements of their trade and circuit racers have always had karting however Kalle is the rallying example of "start 'em young". Yes he has been fast tracked in a way to the best team in the WRC however the way he has conducted himself and how he has dominated events at times is the sign of a true champion. Will be interesting to see how long the fire burns for rallying or if other opportunities/distractions come along however until then its hard to see how he wont dominate for years to come.

[manthey]

We have got used to seeing old/family film of tennis and golf champions etc playing the sport from an age when they could barely hold the implements of their trade and circuit racers have always had karting however Kalle is the rallying example of "start 'em young". Yes he has been fast tracked in a way to the best team in the WRC however the way he has conducted himself and how he has dominated events at times is the sign of a true champion. Will be interesting to see how long the fire burns for rallying or if other opportunities/distractions come along however until then its hard to see how he wont dominate for years to come.Do you mean a possible switch to track motorsport?

[RallyFan13]

Congratulations to our Champion Crew
Video for Kalle Rovanpera-Joanne Halttunen From Acropolis Rally!
https://youtu.be/SfSTKNeAQbA

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Not just the youngest WR Champion... at (only just) 22 years of age he's FIVE YEARS younger than the previous youngest, Colin McRae ! :bounce:

[drive]

Loads of video like this, just another one for this evening ��
https://youtu.be/mfkDJC7_Miw

[SubaruNorway]

Quick one i did from Sweden and Finland this year
https://youtu.be/vIZP2EHHe0w

[240RS]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/the-pacenote-change-that-helped-rovanpera-to-wrc-glory/

That story on changes Kalle made to his pace-noting reminds me of the old debate on "numbers vs description". The difference it can make can change a whole career.

Nicky Grist spoke candidly of the changes he and Colin made when they paired-up. Juha Kankkunen, too, had done the same earlier. Only he had to change the language too!!!!

[manthey]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/the-pacenote-change-that-helped-rovanpera-to-wrc-glory/

That story on changes Kalle made to his pace-noting reminds me of the old debate on "numbers vs description". The difference it can make can change a whole career.

Nicky Grist spoke candidly of the changes he and Colin made when they paired-up. Juha Kankkunen, too, had done the same earlier. Only he had to change the language too!!!!I don't know about your refs about Grist and Juha and I'm curious about. Can you briefly write about? Thanks

[240RS]

I don't know about your refs about Grist and Juha and I'm curious about. Can you briefly write about? Thanks

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/motorsport-news/20210603/282110639532213

I can't quite recall the YouTube video Nicky Grist was on discussing the change, but the story in that Press Reader website captured some of the content.

Juha, on the other hand, felt the descriptions in English, when compared with his native language, contained fewer words while conveying the same content. Something he felt was an advantage on mouthy stages.

[manthey]

Very nice interview about Kalle and his driving sensibility


WRC | Kalle Rovanpera: la genesi del campione svelata da Testoni
https://it.motorsport.com/wrc/news/wrc-kalle-rovanpera-la-genesi-del-campione-svelata-da-testoni/10385962/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The new World Champion's livery is now available in Dirt Rally 2.0 ! :cool:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FfhKF9vXEAUEyGU?format=jpg&name=large

[Eli]

The new World Champion's livery is now available in Dirt Rally 2.0 ! :cool:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FfhKF9vXEAUEyGU?format=jpg&name=large

Now we just need his car for Dirt Rally 3.0 ;)

[jiipee64]

https://fb.watch/ghlyHuYla8/

Sometimes it is hard to understand how good this guy knows finnish rallying heritage.
Remarkable hommage to a finnish rallyvdriver who just passed away.

[flat_right]

Could someone explain to non finns also, what did he say and what's the story behind the original saying? :)

[AnttiL]

Could someone explain to non finns also, what did he say and what's the story behind the original saying? :)

Seppo Kopra, a veteran rally driver just passed away recently. He became famous for a video where he's teaching a young driver and telling him to use more throttle with the phrase "pikkasen ylikovaa niin se kääntyilee" which means "a little too fast to make it turn". He remained a hobbyist driver until the very end. He died of a sudden stroke (or something) while preparing to drive the zero car. And the last rally he completed in September, he won the overall.

[Essaj]

Seppo Kopra, a veteran rally driver just passed away recently. He became famous for a video where he's teaching a young driver and telling him to use more throttle with the phrase "pikkasen ylikovaa niin se kääntyilee" which means "a little too fast to make it turn". He remained a hobbyist driver until the very end. He died of a sudden stroke (or something) while preparing to drive the zero car. And the last rally he completed in September, he won the overall.

Also he worked for TGR for a long time, maybe even until the end?

[cali]

Kopra was/is a legend!

Sent from my DN2103 using Tapatalk

[pantealex]

Also he worked for TGR for a long time, maybe even until the end?

Yes. He was in charge of building service park facilities. Did also some meteo/weather work during rallies and did drive everything (minibus, spare recce cars etc.)

[Steve Boyd]

Yes. He was in charge of building service park facilities. Did also some meteo/weather work during rallies and did drive everything (minibus, spare recce cars etc.)
Sounds like if there was a job that needed doing - he'd be the guy who'd do it.
Without guys like him there wouldn't be any rallies - Respect & RIP, even though I'd never heard of him until now.

[240RS]

Harri Rovanpera's moving tribute brought a tear from the normally ice-cool Kalle. Special moment.


https://twitter.com/i/status/1585330011187429400

[jiipee64]

Kalle hits again....


https://yle.fi/a/3-12675091?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=yleralliradio&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1vMhCwXNZikkreGpDPpUN4dYnBBJULZuqNffM48 l_y3f6RXSuROET9IP4

[spyros]

Kalle hits again....


https://yle.fi/a/3-12675091?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=yleralliradio&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1vMhCwXNZikkreGpDPpUN4dYnBBJULZuqNffM48 l_y3f6RXSuROET9IP4

What did he say?

[flat_right]

Guys, if there is some info etc in your local language, please add some translation/explanation. This is not a local forum :)

[jiipee64]

Can You see the video there??

[MartijnS]

No, looks like it’s blocked, i see a globe so probably geo block.

[flat_right]

Can You see the video there??

Yes, the same here that I can't see it. This is why I asked for explanation.

[dimviii]

Kalle Rovanperä
@KalleRovanpera
·
5h
Exciting news!

GR Yaris 'Kalle Edition' will be coming out soon!
Big thanks to TOYOTA for making this possible and giving me chance to do something special with it!

And also super happy that our bald, but very nice livery made by Liupakka Graphics is on it!��

#KR69 #GRYaris


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmWr145XEAAH9uv?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmWr14xWAAI6ic0?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmWrxg1XoAEqp3i?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmWrxg3WAAMhepz?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

[Sulland]

Sorry to learn that Kalle has to stop testing super formula, due to issues with his balance nerve.

Hopefully he will have a speedy recovery.

[Jarek Z]

Kalle Rovanperä feels he was born 20 years too late. “I would have liked to be a professional in the 1990s, when life was much simpler and rallying was, in my opinion, cooler,” Rovanperä continues.

Rovanperä has later seen videos of rallying in the 1990s, and its relaxed atmosphere has made a deep impression on the Finnish driver. “I watched Juha (Kankkunen) and the other guys smoking in the car between special stages and then just carrying on again. I just thought it was really cool,” Rovanperä says.

source:
https://rallyjournal.com/kalle-rovanpera-feels-he-was-born-20-years-too-late-would-have-liked-to-smoke-in-the-car/

[Rallyper]

Any news about his recovery, or whatever he needs for coming back to F2?

[Kenneth]

Kalle's livery for Formula Regional Oceania. First race is tomorrow at midnight CET.

Link to Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1q73bud/ot_kalle_rovanpera_is_making_his_openwheel_racing/), for some reason i cant upload the picture here.

[TypeR]

Kalle's livery for Formula Regional Oceania. First race is tomorrow at midnight CET.

Link to Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/comments/1q73bud/ot_kalle_rovanpera_is_making_his_openwheel_racing/), for some reason i cant upload the picture here.
https://www.upload.ee/image/18962710/ot-kalle-rovanpera-is-making-his-open-wheel-racing-debut-v0-27g2zwmm92cg1.jpeg

[saco0o]

livestream for qualy in 25h from now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iey-Z99L2Ik

dammit cannot believe im going to start to follow open wheel racing lol

[Steve Boyd]

dammit cannot believe im going to start to follow open wheel racing lol
I think I can feel the disturbance in The Force - somebody is moving to The Dark Side :)

[Maui J.]

A bit of a tough start for Kalle. He qualified 16th out of the 19 cars, but in saying that he was basically just over one second behind the pole sitter. The cars are super close in performance. Pole 1:29.267 Kalle 1:30.307

Race 1 has just finished, the results say he was 16th overall, but the commentators were saying their could be a 10 second infringement coming his way which drop him to last TBC

The results will show very average start, but he was up against seasoned F3, GB3, F4, and even a Supercar driver. Definitely room for improvement once he gets used to the car, the tracks, etc

I'm heading to the track tomorrow for the Sunday races so hopefully I'll grab a few photos.

[Maui J.]

Race #2
Much better for Kalle. He started 17th (his final position from Race #1) and finished up 11th, probably the biggest improvement of all the drivers, so it looks like the race-craft is coming. He had a good mid-field, back-and-forth battle and was up to 10th a few times but slipped back just before the finish.

[saco0o]

ehhhh... its harder when theres 20 entries all on the same car. most of these kids are coming from road racing and karting and open wheel racing already. as a fan I was hoping kalle would be beating everybody from day 1 in open wheel but I guess we are going to have to wait a little bit! interesting anyway tho!

[Doon]

Seeing his results from a national event in NZ this weekend, I think we can assume that he’ll be back in WRC in the near future. He’s not going to make it to F1.

[Maui J.]

A very hot day at Hampton Downs race track today.

Race #3. Kalle started 18th, and finished 13th. With the 9th fastest lap time.

Race #4 Started 9th, but was involved in a big accident on the first lap that knocked out 5 cars so that was the end of his weekend unfortunately.

There are 12 more races over the next 3 weekends.

Results can be found here. https://www.toyota.co.nz/toyota-racing/castrol-toyota-fr-oceania/calendar-results/

[Kenneth]

Seeing his results from a national event in NZ this weekend, I think we can assume that he’ll be back in WRC in the near future. He’s not going to make it to F1.

I also don't think Kalle will make it into F1, but common, you can't make any conclusions from this event so far.

It isn't "national event in NZ" by any mean, it's the most prestigious off-season formula series and it's pretty much full of experienced F4-FR-F3 drivers who races on circuits since they were small kids.

On the other hand, Kalle had only like 4 test sessions so far in his open wheen career before his first race. He should be dead last by any mean, yet he wasn't. He also showed some good racecraft there.

His goal isn't to win the races, but to finish them and show his potential, and it will be same in SF. We can make some conclusions in his second F2 season, not now lol.

[Doon]

Flip the scenario on its head. A top F1 driver enters a national event of the BRC for example. They set a 9th fastest stage time and finish 11th. I think we’d all conclude that they’ll never make it into a factory WRC seat.

It’s unlikely Kalle will even get enough points for a super licence. Nothing against him or his driving talent, he’s just started circuit racing way too late. I fear he’ll make rally drivers look a bit average if he enters F2, and maybe even in super formula! I think people forget about Loeb’s GP2 test where he finished last of 25 drivers.

[WRCStan]

Flip the scenario on its head. A top F1 driver enters a national event of the BRC for example. They set a 9th fastest stage time and finish 11th. I think we’d all conclude that they’ll never make it into a factory WRC seat.

OK maybe hypothetically, but not really a useful comparison when in reality a 53 year old ex-F1 driver actually just won the BRC championship title, winning 4 rounds from 5 starts. If he was 25, we'd think a factory WRC seat could be possible for the future.

Although I agree on Kalle, never did hold much high expectations for this venture. If he's enjoying it all then good for him.

[Doon]

OK maybe hypothetically, but not really a useful comparison when in reality a 53 year old ex-F1 driver actually just won the BRC championship title, winning 4 rounds from 5 starts. If he was 25, we'd think a factory WRC seat could be possible for the future.

This just kind of shows that F1 drivers are better than some rally fans give credit for. Kubica was another example, WRC stage wins and won WRC2 fairly easily.

[deephouse]

Both categories have their ups and downs. Those G-forces in Formula probably are hard to take. Also they whine how hard is for them, while rallying take on icy, winter roads, hot as hell too and with events whch transforms from one extreme to completely different one. In rallying drivers and co-drivers are the ones who often fix their cars to be able to race, changing the tyres while formula drivers doesn't need to do nothing and wait (and still whine). Formula drivers gets payed in multimillions just to be there, while rally drivers need to work very hard, achieve absolutely maximum to start making money out of this sport. Of course formula drivers also have field full of other drivers while rallying is focused more on being attentive to roads ahead and time.

But one fact is quite funny. Formula drivers are often afraid being in rally car while they racing with 300kph on perfect paved circuits.

So both sport have their own challenges, shame just that WRC isn't worth more.

[WRCStan]

But one fact is quite funny. Formula drivers are often afraid being in rally car while they racing with 300kph on perfect paved circuits.

They're not use to working in 3D space either. But for the ups and downs of the circuit they're in 'flatland'.


So both sport have their own challenges, shame just that WRC isn't worth more.

Speak for yourself. ;)

[wyler]

This just kind of shows that F1 drivers are better than some rally fans give credit for. Kubica was another example, WRC stage wins and won WRC2 fairly easily.

and he started being 10/15/20ish in regional rallies...

[doubled1978]

Both categories have their ups and downs. Those G-forces in Formula probably are hard to take. Also they whine how hard is for them, while rallying take on icy, winter roads, hot as hell too and with events whch transforms from one extreme to completely different one. In rallying drivers and co-drivers are the ones who often fix their cars to be able to race, changing the tyres while formula drivers doesn't need to do nothing and wait (and still whine). Formula drivers gets payed in multimillions just to be there, while rally drivers need to work very hard, achieve absolutely maximum to start making money out of this sport. Of course formula drivers also have field full of other drivers while rallying is focused more on being attentive to roads ahead and time.

But one fact is quite funny. Formula drivers are often afraid being in rally car while they racing with 300kph on perfect paved circuits.

So both sport have their own challenges, shame just that WRC isn't worth more.

Anthony Davidson actually said almost exactly that in commentary a few years ago on the F1. I think they were talking about Bottas when he did some rallies, and he said he would love to drive a rally car on the roads in Finland, but not with the trees, rocks, ditches and spectators so close to the road.

[jcevc]

IMO there are much more positives than negatives for Kalle from first race weekend in single seaters - in one of the races his best lap was only three tents slower than the fastest drivers...as someone said, some drivers here as Slater and Ugochukwu has tons of experience from karting to the lower classes of single seaters and I think both are future F1 candidates... I think this was also first time for Kalle to seat in Formula Regional (in theory successor of Formula Renault) and he was most of the time in the middle pack, he was also not afraid to overtake other drivers etc.
Patience is the key :)

[Maui J.]

A four minute interview with Kalle before he started the weekend's races.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14dhTMW_Nbw

[1988senna]

Kalle still can't get the result better than 12th in NZ formula, So I can't imagine how will he perform in Super formula

[Maui J.]

Kalle's results of Round #2. CTFROT (Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy), Taupo Race Track, NZ. 17-18th January.

Race #1. Qualified 14th (1.046 sec off pole), finished 16th
Race #2. Started 16th (previous race result), finished 10th
Race #3. Started 15th (combined best lap times of race 1 & 2), finished 14th
Race #4. Qualified 15th (a very wet qualifying session, 1.6 secs off pole), finished 12th in the dry.

Did he improve from last weekend's races? I would say a slight improvement. He is definitely still a back-runner, but in saying this, the TV commenters, who are either current or former circuit racers, are giving him lots of kudos, and all believe he is quickly learning the race craft that the others drivers have been learning since they were in karts as 6 year olds.
Probably not the results everyone was hoping for, but realistically it's probably what was to be expected.
Another 2 weekends of racing coming.

[saco0o]

he finished 9th on the 4th race, no? (Taupo)

[Kenneth]

Round 3 Race 1: In a wet race Kalle finished 3rd after qualifying 3rd

[Sulland]

He is learning quick!

[deephouse]

It takes time and he does have it with his age. I believe he can get at least in F2 if not in main league, but assuming Toyota took over Haas completely in a year or two he will reach that too

[Maui J.]

he finished 9th on the 4th race, no? (Taupo)

Correct! My mistake.

[Maui J.]

Qualifying #1 on Saturday morning was actually a lottery, as there were 3 red flags and many drivers didn't even get a 'push lap' in before the next red flag appeared. There were a lot of angry team managers. Kalle actually qualified 6th but was bumped to 3rd as the some ahead of him were penalised for causing red flags or other infringements. In saying that Kalle definitely held his own during the race and got his first circuit podium.

Kalle's results of Round #3. CTFROT (Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy), Teretonga Park, Invercargill, NZ. 24-25th January.

Race #1. Qualified 6th, started 3rd. Finished 3rd
Race #2. Started 6th (top 8 result from race#1 reverse grid). Finished 5th
Race #3 Not held. Saturday's Race #2 was postponed due to heavy rain, and held on Sunday. Therefore Race#3 didn't run due to time restraints.
Race #4. Qualified 7th (0.6sec off pole time of 1:01.88). Finished 7th

A much better weekend for Kalle. His car control in the slippery wet conditions really came into play.

[saco0o]

kalle got a p3! the race starts around 21:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdDZrC2on9w

[Kenneth]

It takes time and he does have it with his age. I believe he can get at least in F2 if not in main league, but assuming Toyota took over Haas completely in a year or two he will reach that too

Toyota didn't take over Haas, they are just titular sponsor and technical partner. I don't think they'll fully take over until 2031, when they could use their own engines.

[deephouse]

And until then there will be more and more involvement into project, every year after year until a point where there will be no more Haas name on it. And people will get used to it.

[Maui J.]

So for the fourth and final round of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy at Highland Motorsport Park, there's not a lot to report on as far as Kalle goes. Unfortunately he was unwell and didn't line up for any of the races.

Here's to a speedy recovery and hopefully he takes away some useful race craft from his time in NZ, that he can use in his next challenge in Japan with Super Formula.