Two-time World Rally champion Kalle Rovanperä has tested a Formula 1 car, driving a Red Bull around the Red Bull Ring last week.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver, who is also a Red Bull athlete, has reduced his WRC commitments this year in order to try other things – including more drifting and racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux.
But the 24-year-old realized the ultimate dream of driving a Formula 1 car last Friday, getting behind the wheel of the normally-aspirated RB8 raced in 2012, as well as Formula 4 and Formula Renault 3.5 machines as well.
In total, Rovanperä completed around 50 laps.
“It was a great day,” he said, “I got to drive three different formula cars.
“I got quite a few laps in and, of course, the F1 was something I had been looking forward to for a long time, so it was really cool to finally get to drive it. The day went well, and I was left with very good feelings.
Rovanperä drove a V8-powered RB8
“The biggest differences between rally and F1 are obviously that a rally car moves a lot more from the body – F1 is a bit like a karting car, it doesn’t move much from its suspension, but it has an incredible amount of grip – and of course, F1 has a huge amount of downforce, which allows you to drive much faster in corners,” he added.
“It’s also physically quite different. There’s a lot more lateral G-force, the car stops much more and turns more – it feels very different to the driver, there are a lot more G-forces and the car has an incredible amount of grip.
“Indeed, the first time you sit in there, it feels quite different than in a rally car – you also sit in such a different position that it feels quite different – but it was really cool to get to feel it today.
“Thanks to Red Bull and Red Bull Racing for the day! It was a pretty amazing experience, this has been anticipated for quite a while and I was left with very good feelings myself – so thank you very much, it was a great day!”
Rovanperä is not the only driver to sample an F1 car. Toyota team-mate Sébastien Ogier has also driven a Red Bull around the Red Bull Ring, while Sébastien Loeb almost raced for Toro Rosso in 2009 but wasn’t granted an FIA super license.
