Toyota Bench Rovanpera, Doohan's F1 Dream

0:00On March 31, Toyota just dropped more details on pulling Kalei Rovan Pera, the two-time World Rally Champion from this year's Super Formula season. The Finnish driver was set to race with the KCMG team, but got sidelined after a medical check showed ongoing issues with benign paroxysmal positional, vertigo, and inner ear problem. That vertigo hit hard during last December's preseason test at Suzuki, forcing him to sit out most sessions. He bounced back for Formula Regional Oceania in January, and finished the late February Super Formula test, though at the bottom of the time sheets. Toyota's Global Motorsport Director Messiah Kaji called it a tough call led by Chairman Akio Toyota, stressing no point racing without full physical, and mental prep. They skipped even the opener at Motegi, where Satan Nonaka steps in to give Rovan Pera a real recovery time instead of half measures. Kaji also touched on Jack Doohan, the ex Formula One driver, who bailed on Kondo racing at the last minute for a Haas reserve seat.

1:02Crash's in testing weren't the issue. Super Formula was never his top priority, with Formula One always the goal and budgets playing a role. Once Rovan Pera's back at 100%, Toyota plans to tackle single-seaters again, maybe Super Formula or something else, while keeping doors. Open for Doohan down the line through their Haas ties. From your team, powered by AI, this is F1 News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.