Rallying-Rovanpera targets F1 with switch to circuit racing from 2026

Toyota's double world champion Kalle Rovanpera announced on Thursday he would leave rallying and switch to circuit racing next year, with Formula One and Le Mans in his sights.

The 25-year-old Finn is in the running for a third rally title, with the season ending in Saudi Arabia next month, but will compete in the Japanese Super Formula single-seater series in 2026.

Super Formula has been a springboard to both Formula Two and Formula One in the past. 

"This decision has not been an easy one, but it’s one that I have been thinking about for a while," said the Finn, who became the youngest ever world rally champion in 2022, a day after his 22nd birthday.

"Having already achieved so much in rallying at this age, I started to think about what other possibilities I might have and what other challenges I would like to take on.

"I know that it’s jumping straight into the deep end, coming from rallying, but I’m really looking forward to it and together with TGR (Toyota Gazoo Racing) we have a good plan to prepare in the best way possible and to try and make the most of it."

YOUNGEST EVER WORLD RALLY WINNER

Rovanpera, the son of former rally driver Harri, is the youngest winner of a world championship rally with his first victory coming at the age of 21 in 2021.

He has already done some circuit racing, driving a Porsche in sportscar races in Europe last year when he did a partial world rally campaign.

He also did some laps in a 2012 Red Bull Formula One car at Austria's Red Bull Ring last year and he told the dirtfish.com website that he wanted to compete at the highest level.

"I know we will go Super Formula, and after this, we will work towards the next category step, which would be Formula Two, and we will see how everything goes," he