Current two-time world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera swapped his rally automotive for a Red Bull RB8 Formula 1 automotive during tests on the Red Bull Ring.
Suggestions that the 15-time WRC winner could drive an F1 automotive emerged initially of the season, and a photograph posted on his Instagram of a visit to the Red Bull Racing workshop in Milton Keynes last month further fueled speculation.
To prepare for the trip, Rovanpera visited Red Bull Racing headquarters for a seat fitting after which took part in a session on the team's simulator.
“We fitted the seats to the car to make sure everything was OK in the cockpit for the test, and then we had a morning simulator session trying out different smaller category formula cars, matching them to the bigger ones. I managed to get the track suspension and so on,” Rovanpera told Motorsport.com before the competition.
“I'm still a racing driver, so I want to show my potential and try to do well.”
Last week, Rovanpera traveled to the Austrian Grand Prix, where he made his debut in a single-seater automotive – first in Formula 4 and Formula Renault 3.5 machines, before moving to an older-generation Red Bull F1 automotive.
Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 automotive on the Red Bull Ring
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
The Finn accomplished 40 to 50 laps on the track where he raced on this yr's Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series.
“It was a terrific day, I got to drive three different formula cars. I did a number of laps and clearly F1 was something I had been looking forward to for a very long time, so it was very nice to finally drive it. The day went well and left superb impressions,” said Rovanpera.
“The biggest differences between rallying and F1 are, in fact, that the rally automotive moves rather more than the body – the F1 is a bit like a go-kart automotive, it doesn't move much on the suspension however it has incredible grip – and naturally the F1 has huge downforce which means that you can drive much faster in corners. Physically additionally it is completely different.
“The lateral G-force is far greater, the automotive stops and turns more often – the motive force feels rather more G-force, there may be rather more G-force, and the automotive has incredible grip.
Kalle Rovanpera tests a Red Bull Formula 1 automotive on the Red Bull Ring
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
“It's true that when you sit there for the first time it feels completely different to being in a rally car – you're also sitting in such a different position that it feels completely different – ​​but it was really nice to feel it today.”
This yr, Rovanpera broadened his motorsport horizons with a foray into track racing after deciding to participate in Toyota's partial campaign within the World Rally Championship before returning to full-time racing next yr.
Rovanpera's track racing exploits included participation within the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux series, which produced three race victories. Last month, the Finn also took part in a round of the Italian Carrera Cup at Monza.
The 24-year-old is a daily on the drifting scene, performing all over the world, and has revealed that he has ambitions to sooner or later compete within the 24 Hours of Le Mans World Endurance Championship.
Kalle Rovanpera test in a Red Bull Formula 1 automotive on the Red Bull Ring
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Rovanpera isn’t the primary WRC star to pilot an F1 automotive, with 1995 champion Colin McRae and nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb famous for his or her outings.
McRae piloted a 1996 Jordan F1 automotive at Silverstone as a part of a automotive swapping stunt that saw then-Jordan driver Martin Brundle drive McRae's Subaru Impreza WRC.
In 2007, Loeb drove a Renault F1 show automotive on the Paul Ricard circuit before joining Red Bull for the 2008 Barcelona F1 winter test, where he set the eighth fastest time in a Red Bull RB4.
