Famous Finnish Rally Drivers

Keijo Erik Rosberg, known as "Keke," is a Finnish former racing driver who achieved success in Formula One. He won the 1982 Formula One World Championship, becoming the first Finnish driver to do so. Rosberg's skill and determination on the track earned him a place in motorsport history. His racing career was marked by impressive performances and a competitive spirit that propelled him to victory. Rosberg's legacy continues through his son, Nico Rosberg, who also went on to win a Formula One World Championship.

Heikki Kovalainen is a Finnish racing driver with a successful career in motorsports. He competed in Formula One from 2007 to 2013, driving for teams like Renault, McLaren, Team Lotus, Caterham, and Lotus F1. He achieved a victory at the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix and earned respect for his performance in uncompetitive cars. Kovalainen also competed in the Japanese Super GT series from 2015 to 2021, winning the championship in 2016. He has shown skill and determination throughout his career, making his mark in both Formula One and Super GT.

Henri Toivonen was a highly skilled and accomplished Finnish rally driver known for his early success in the World Rally Championship. Starting with a victory at the 1980 Lombard RAC Rally, he set a record as the youngest driver to win a world rally at the time. He drove for various teams including Talbot, Opel, Porsche, and Lancia. Despite a serious accident in 1985, he made a successful comeback and continued to showcase his talent, winning significant rallies before tragically losing his life in a crash during the Tour de Corse rally in 1986.

Kalle Rovanperä is a Finnish professional rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT. He won the World Rally Championship-2 Pro in 2019 and was promoted to the top tier by Toyota in 2020. Rovanperä made history in 2021 by becoming the youngest driver to win a World Rally Championship event at the Rally Estonia. In 2022, he became the youngest ever World Champion by winning the Rally New Zealand shortly after his 22nd birthday.

Tommi Antero Mäkinen is a Finnish racing executive and former rally driver, renowned as one of the most successful World Rally drivers in history. He has achieved 24 rally wins and 4 championships, placing him among the top competitors in the sport. Mäkinen made history in 2018 by winning a Championship both as a driver and as a team principal. He is a four-time World Rally Champion, known for his dominance in the late 1990s driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Mäkinen's expertise and success have also contributed to Mitsubishi's achievements in the world constructors' title and other notable victories.

Ari Vatanen is a multi-talented Finnish individual known for his successful career as a rally driver and politician. During his time as a rally driver, he achieved significant milestones such as winning the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1981 and the prestigious Paris Dakar Rally four times. Vatanen's success extended to cross-country rallies as well, as he claimed victory in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies in 1997. Transitioning into politics, he served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2009.

Markku Alén is a Finnish former rally and race car driver known for his successful career in the World Rally Championship. He represented renowned car manufacturers such as Fiat, Lancia, Subaru, and Toyota during his time in the series. Alén achieved significant milestones, including holding the record for most stage wins in the WRC. Although he never won the world championship, he secured victories and accolades such as the FIA Cup for Drivers in 1978. Alén briefly held the title of world champion in 1986 before results were annulled due to an appeal.

Marcus Grönholm is a highly accomplished rally and rallycross driver, known for his impressive track record in the World Rally Championship (WRC). With numerous wins and two championship titles in 2000 and 2002, Grönholm has solidified his status as one of the most successful WRC drivers in history. He competed for various top teams, including Peugeot and Ford, consistently finishing near the top of the standings. Despite retiring from rallying in 2007, Grönholm made a brief comeback in 2009 and later participated in the 2019 WRC season driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.

Juha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen is a Finnish former rally driver with a distinguished career in the World Rally Championship spanning from 1983 to 2002. He achieved notable success with multiple manufacturers, winning 23 world rallies and four drivers' world championship titles. Kankkunen's accomplishments include being the first driver to win world titles with three different manufacturers. Beyond rallying, he also won the Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions, setting world speed records in Bentley vehicles post-retirement.

Hannu Mikkola was a highly accomplished Finnish world rally driver known for his exceptional skills behind the wheel. Throughout his career, he achieved great success by winning the prestigious 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland seven times and the RAC Rally in Great Britain four times. Mikkola's impressive track record and victories solidified his reputation as a champion in the world of rally driving. He was respected for his precision, speed, and strategic approach to competing in some of the most challenging rally events globally.

Mikko Hirvonen is a Finnish former rally driver and Rally-Raid driver known for his success in the World Rally Championship. He achieved third place in the drivers' championship and contributed to Ford winning the manufacturers' title in 2006 and 2007. Hirvonen notably finished as the runner-up to Sébastien Loeb multiple times, in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. Throughout his career, he collaborated with co-drivers such as Jarmo Lehtinen and Miikka Anttila, showcasing his skill and dedication to the sport.

Jari-Matti Latvala is a highly accomplished Finnish rally driver known for his aggressive driving style and numerous event victories in the World Rally Championship (WRC). With 18 event wins, he is considered one of the most successful drivers without a championship title. Latvala has the most World Rally starts in the sport and is often compared to the legendary Colin McRae. In 2021, he transitioned to the role of team principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, taking over from Tommi Mäkinen.

Timo Salonen, a Finnish former rally driver, achieved great success during his professional career. Known for his unique appearance and relaxed attitude, Salonen defied expectations by being overweight, wearing thick glasses, and smoking heavily while still maintaining his status as one of the fastest and most competitive drivers in the sport. His distinctive driving style, using only one hand to steer his rally car, earned him the nickname "Löysä." With 11 rally wins, Salonen was the most successful driver of the Group B era in the World Rally Championship.

Timo Mäkinen was a renowned Finnish race car driver known for his exceptional skills in motor rallying. He gained fame as one of the original "Flying Finns" in the racing world. Mäkinen achieved significant success with a hat-trick of wins in both the RAC Rally and the 1000 Lakes Rally, solidifying his reputation as a top driver. His outstanding performances and mastery behind the wheel made him a respected figure in the motorsport community, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.

Pentti Airikkala, a prominent figure among the "Flying Finns" in world rallying, had a distinguished career spanning four decades. Known for his sporadic yet successful participation in World Rally Championship (WRC) events, he notably achieved victory at the 1989 RAC Rally driving a Group A Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. With 36 WRC events under his belt, Airikkala amassed 102 points and secured a best overall finish of 9th in the 1981 Drivers' Championship. Following retirement, he ran a renowned rally driving school in Oxfordshire, mentoring future champions like Colin McRae and Richard Burns.