Two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä makes his circuit racing debut at the DTM weekend in Zandvoort: Which car he drives and how the tests went
Star appearance at the DTM weekend in Zandvoort: Two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä will make his circuit racing debut in the supporting program of the traditional series on the dune circuit. He will do so in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, which is making its first guest appearance on the DTM platform this season and will complete its second race weekend at Zandvoort.
The 23-year-old Rovanperä decided last year to take a break from the World Rally Championship and broaden his motorsport horizons. He is now doing just that in the DTM!
The Finn did not take part in the Porsche one-make cup season opener in May as part of the WEC weekend at Spa-Francorchamps due to his Toyota guest start at the Rally Portugal. He is therefore only now entering the series
How Rovanperä is preparing for the challenge
Rovanperä, who became the youngest ever overall winner of the World Rally Championship in 2022, will be driving for the Red Ant team of former Belgian racing driver Marc Goosens. On Monday, during a test in Zandvoort, he got to grips with the track and the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, which he is not very familiar with.
The Red Bull logo is also a must on his black, red and white car, as Rovanperä is supported by the Austrian energy drink manufacturer. The Zandvoort appearance will not be a one-off, as the son of rally legend Hari Rovanperä wants to contest four out of six weekends to gain a first impression of GT racing
He completed his first test with the car and team a few months ago in Zolder. The biggest challenge for him was to approach the limit on the brakes. This is because driving aids such as ABS and traction control are not used in series production
Rovanperä was still struggling with the brakes during the test
“The front is quite light,” Rovanperä remarked in his vlog on YouTube. “It can quickly happen that the inside wheel stops when you turn and brake at the same time. That’s where I had the most to learn. How to brake – and how to be gentle enough with the brakes.” What’s more, he still has no experience in traffic.
In addition to the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, the ADAC GT Masters and the Formula Regional European Championship, which is held with Formula 3 cars, will also enrich the DTM supporting program in Zandvoort.
