Safari Rally Kenya winner Takamoto Katsuta has hit out at negative speculation surrounding Kalle Rovanperä’s decision to pause his circuit racing activities amid a medical issue.
Two-time World Rally champion Rovanperä has pulled out of his Super Formula season after previously skipping a pre-season test with an inner-ear balance problem; he also missed the season finale of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy due to illness.
Katsuta, who lives close to Rovanperä in Monaco and was team-mates at Toyota’s World Rally Championship team for six years, has now felt the need to publicly back Rovanperä on social media, saying that Rovanperä’s recent struggles have nothing to do with a lack of adequate preparation.
“I’m writing this as a close friend,” Katsuta said on the X social media platform.
“There’s bound to be all sorts of speculation surrounding this sort of situation, but it’s not because his physique isn’t suited to formula racing, or because he lacks the necessary strength.
“As mentioned in Kalle’s own statement, the issue is simply that a chronic condition he’s had for a long time has, through sheer bad luck, taken a turn for the worse at this particular moment, and the question is what must take priority now.
“He certainly didn’t take racing lightly; he made the decision to take on the world of racing with the utmost respect. And he was prepared to sacrifice a great deal to do so.
“He must be the most disappointed of all, and I, having watched this challenge unfold from the closest vantage point, feel exactly the same way.
“Even so, I cannot thank Morizo-san and everyone in the team enough for their unwavering support. I’m sure that, given it’s Kalle, he’ll make a full recovery, come back stronger than ever.
“For now, I just want him to recover as fully as possible! Hang in there, Kalle!”
Katsuta and Rovanperä are massive supporters of one another, in and out of the car
Rovanperä did not get a chance to embark on his primary racing campaign of 2026, with the opening round of the Super Formula season not taking place until April. His best open-wheel result had been a podium finish in the rain-soaked opening race at FR Oceania’s Teretonga round.
Katsuta, who competed in single-seaters before switching to rally, remains convinced that once his health issues clear, Rovanperä has what it takes to succeed in circuit racing.
“One final thing,” wrote Katsuta. “You’d be amazed if you saw Kalle’s performance in the F2 tests and on the simulator.
“Anyway, I really hate it when people write or say all sorts of things based on speculation, so I just had to write this.”
