Rally champion Rovanperä took part in the opening round of Formula Drift Japan at the Fuji track this weekend. Rovanperä was in splendid form during Saturday’s qualifying, securing second place with a score of 96 points.
Read more: Kalle Rovanperä delivers a stunning performance in Japan
In Sunday’s tandem battles, Rovanperä progressed from his initial head-to-head. Then, in the Top 16 phase, he came up against his teammate Yusuke Kusaba.
Rovanperä led the first run, but Kusaba closely followed the Finn. During Kusaba’s lead run, Rovanperä couldn’t quite keep up with the Japanese driver’s racing lines and used his GR Corolla’s rear tyres slightly off the track.
The judges were unanimous: all three judges rated Kusaba’s performance higher, and Rovanperä was knocked out. After the judges’ decision, Rovanperä candidly acknowledged his defeat and congratulated Kusaba.
This was Rovanperä’s third competition in a round of Formula Drift Japan. Last year, he went to the homeland of drifting to claim one victory and one second place.
Last week, Rovanperä won a World Rally Championship round in Kenya. The Finnish star has yet to reveal when and in which discipline he will compete next.
It’s likely that Rovanperä will be seen with a helmet on during the second weekend of May, either at Rally Portugal or at the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series round at Spa circuit in Belgium. Rovanperä is set to compete in four Porsche Cup races this year.
