Oct. 18, 2016
Juho Hänninen named as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC driver in 2017!
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is delighted to announce that Finnish driver Juho Hänninen and his co-driver Kaj Lindström will compete in the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship.
Kaj Lindström and Juho Hänninen
Led by four-time World Rally Champion Tommi Mäkinen, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC team has been working around the clock and racking up the miles in the Yaris WRC since the beginning of the year. Involved in the intense development program as the official test driver, Juho Hänninen has a good understanding of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's goal―making ever-better cars―and was the obvious choice to work with during the Japanese brand's first season competing in the FIA World Rally Championship. He has signed a one-year contract, with an option to extend beyond 2017.
After winning the Intercontinental Rally Challenge championship in 2010, Juho built on his success by claiming the FIA S-WRC title in 2011 and then becoming European Rally Champion the year after. He took part in the top category on various occasions in 2013 and 2014, delivering impressive performances at events such as Rally Sweden, Rally Poland and Rally Finland. He will be completing a full programme with the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC team in 2017, alongside co-driver Kaj Lindström.
"This really feels like a dream come true!" noted the Finnish driver. "Joining a works team with such potential for a full season is a real opportunity for me. We have been working together since the car's first outing, so that makes it all the more exciting and motivating. The Yaris WRC is incredible. I can't wait to get started at the Rallye Monte-Carlo!"
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- Date of birth
- 25 July 1981 (35 years old)
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- Nationality
- Finnish
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- Career highlights
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- 2001
- First rally, SM Valvoline Rally (Finland)
- 2006
- First WRC rally, Rally Sweden
- 2008
- First victory, Rally Russia (Intercontinental Rally Challenge with Peugeot 207 S2000)
- 2010
- IRC Champion (with Skoda Fabia S2000)
- 2011
- FIA SWRC Champion (with Skoda Fabia S2000)
- 2012
- FIA ERC Champion (with Skoda Fabia S2000)
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- WRC statistics
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- WRC starts
- 43
- Points scored
- 54
- Stage wins
- 3