Kalle Rovanpera had the chance to drive a Formula 1 car from Red Bull Racing last week and shares his first impressions after his test.
The two-time WRC Champion tested three different Formula 1 cars from Red Bull Racing and completed 50 laps at Red Bull Ring which is located in Spielberg of Austria. Rovanpera is not the only WRC driver, who had the opportunity to test a Formula 1 car, as Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier also got behind the wheel of a Formula 1 due to the fact that Red Bull supports these three drivers and gives the chance to the multi-year WRC Champions to complete some laps with a F1 car. Rovanpera chose to have a partial programme with Toyota this season and has already completed his campaign while he is set to make his comeback as a full-time driver in 2025 in order to fight for one more title in World Rally Championship. Last but not least, Rovanpera likes the new challenges and this can be proved by the fact that he has competed at drifting series and at Porsche Carrera Cup.
"It was a great day, I got to drive three different formula cars", Rovanpera said.
"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.
"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.
"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!"
Watch more photos from Kalle Rovanpera's test with a F1 car:
Photo Credits: Red Bull Content Pool
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