Two-time World Rally champion Kalle Rovanpera has had to call off his Super Formula debut - and thus suspend his quest to reach Formula 1 - due to health problems.

The 25-year-old, who had gone from rallying 'child prodigy' to world champion, had committed to a sensational switch from rallying to single-seater racing at the end of last year, having already dabbled impressively in Porsche Carrera racing the year prior.

With F1 known to be the ultimate target, he was placed by his long-time employer Toyota in the Japanese Super Formula series - and also contested the off-season junior championship Formula Regional Oceania, based in New Zealand.

The New Zealand campaign went well, as he made considerable progress culminating in a wet-weather podium in the penultimate round (before withdrawing from the finale due to an illness).

But his Super Formula testing was continuously disrupted by what was described as vertigo - and it has now been announced that he will not be competing in the Super Formula season opener at Motegi in early April.

An emotional statement from Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda said Rovanpera "has poured his heart" into his formula quest.

"Every time he got on track in private tests, his speed was clear to see. I watched him push harder, find something new within himself, and trim his laptimes again and again.

"Yet despite that passion and progress, his body was struggling to keep up. After receiving a medical evaluation, we reached the painful conclusion that continuing to compete would not be the right choice for him.

"This decision weighed heavily on me. I asked myself what it truly means to let him chase speed, and what it means to protect someone you believe in. In the end, balancing those responsibilities led me to pause his participation in this year’s Super Formula season.

"To everyone involved, and to all the fans who have supported him with such warmth, I am truly sorry that we could not meet your hopes.

"But please believe this: his circuit racing challenge is far from over. His love for cars and his drive to become faster will not fade."

Rovanpera himself wrote that "my health doesn't allow me to continue safely at the moment" and that he was "more than sorry" for those who were excited to see him compete.

"Feedback and progress this year shows that there’s good potential in this project," he also wrote. "My chapter in circuit racing isn’t finished."