Friend responds to 'rumors' regarding Rovanpera's withdrawal.

      Takamoto Katsuta has come to the defense of his close friend Kalle Rovanpera following speculation regarding the reasons for the Finn's abrupt withdrawal from his Super Formula season.

      This week, Rovanpera announced that he is stepping back from his early pursuit of F1 due to a deteriorating medical condition, believed to be a type of dizziness syndrome associated with an inner-ear problem.

      Yet, some reports have suggested that his decision might be linked to performance issues or the demanding nature of single-seater racing. Katsuta, who has been a long-time rally teammate and a close friend of Rovanpera, has firmly rejected such claims.

      "With this kind of story, various speculations arise, but it's not because of his physical suitability for formula racing or a lack of muscle strength or anything like that," he stated on social media. "As Kalle mentioned in his own announcement, it’s a situation where a chronic illness he has dealt with for a long time has unfortunately worsened at this precise moment."

      Katsuta expressed that the situation is especially frustrating for the 25-year-old Kalle. "He must be feeling the most frustrated about it," Katsuta remarked. "And I, as someone who has been closely observing this challenge, resonate with those feelings."

      He emphasized that Rovanpera was fully dedicated to his transition into circuit racing. "He definitely didn’t take racing lightly at all – he chose to take on the racing world with great respect, despite sacrificing many things along the way," he explained.

      Katsuta also dismissed any concerns regarding Rovanpera's driving skills. "If you were aware of Kalle’s performance during the F2 test or on the simulator, you’d be amazed," he added. "So yes, I truly dislike all the speculation and rumors circulating."

      The duo shares a strong connection that goes beyond racing, having spent many years as Toyota teammates and living close to each other in Monaco. Katsuta expressed his belief that Rovanpera will make a comeback. "I believe Kalle will recover well and return even stronger," he said. "For now, I just want him to focus on getting better."