How did WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera’s single-seater debut go?

As two-time world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera tackles a new career in single-seaters, moving to Super Formula for 2026, he’s getting crucial experience in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.

Formerly known as the Toyota Racing Series, the FROT is typically used by young drivers to compete in the winter break, as it takes place in New Zealand’s summer. Previously won by Lance Stroll, Lando Norris, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad on their way to Formula 1, the championship always features up-and-coming racers – whom Rovanpera is going up against.

“It's going to be a busy month with lots to learn, but that's exactly why we are here!” the Hitech TGR driver said.

How well can a rally driver with little to no single-seater experience do? There were 19 drivers in the field last weekend at Hampton Downs. After taking 15th in a pre-season test at the same track, Rovanpera claimed 13th, 18th and 17th in the practice sessions, with his deficit growing from 0.735s to 1.348s as he failed to improve on his benchmark from FP1.

The first qualifying session was tough as Rovanpera ended up 18th, 1.040s slower than polesetter Ugo Ugochukwu, but in Qualifying 2 he took ninth, just 0.527s off the pace compared to the former McLaren junior.

Kalle Rovanperä, Hitech TGR

Photo by: Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand

Starting the first three races from outside the top 15, Rovanpera battled to 17th, 12th and 13th, with a superb move around the outside of Ricardo Baptista in the third one. The last contest of the weekend was his best chance as he was ninth on the grid, but a subpar getaway lost the Finn two positions, before he was involved in a multi-car incident on the next straight as he was squeezed by Sebastian Manson.

As a result, Rovanpera lies just 18th in the standings after the first of four rounds.

“My debut weekend in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Trophy Oceania is now completed!” the 25-year-old wrote on social media.

“First race of the day I started from 18th and after some good battles and time penalties for couple of drivers I finished up in P13.

“For the weekend’s feature race I qualified ninth, but unfortunately my race ended already on the first lap after being crashed out of the track. All the four drivers involved in the crash walked away unharmed and OK which of course is the most important thing.

“Still, I gained tons of valuable experience over the weekend and I'm happy to continue from here and keep improving as CTFRTO heads to Taupo for the next week’s races!”