1. Overview
Tommi Antero Mäkinen (Tommi Mäkinenˈtomːi ˈmækinenFinnish) is a Finnish racing executive and former rally driver, widely regarded as one of the most successful World Rally Championship (WRC) drivers of all time. Born on June 26, 1964, in Puuppola, Jyväskylä, Finland, Mäkinen achieved an unprecedented feat by winning four consecutive WRC Drivers' Championships from 1996 to 1999 while driving for Mitsubishi Ralliart. He secured a total of 24 WRC victories, placing him among the top drivers in the sport's history. After retiring as a driver in 2003, Mäkinen transitioned into team management, notably as the team principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT from 2016 to 2020. In 2018, he made history by becoming the first person in rally driving to win a championship both as a driver and as a team principal, leading Toyota to their first manufacturers' title since 1999. His career is characterized by his distinctive driving style, particularly his dominance on various terrains, and his significant impact on motorsport both on and off the track.
2. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Tommi Antero Mäkinen was born in Puuppola, a locality near Jyväskylä, Finland, on June 26, 1964. Before his illustrious career as a driver, Mäkinen initially worked as a mechanic. He even spent time working for the team owned by Jari-Matti Latvala's father.
2.1. Early Career and First WRC Win
Mäkinen began his rally career in 1985, receiving support from local businessmen like Timo Jouki and fellow Finnish rally driver Juha Kankkunen. His first rally car was a Ford Escort RS2000. In 1988, he won the Group N Finnish Rally Championship driving a Lancia Delta HF 4WD. He made his WRC debut in 1987 at the 1000 Lakes Rally (now Rally Finland).
Despite his early start, Mäkinen experienced a period of struggle in the early 1990s. While rivals like Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz benefited from strong manufacturer support and achieved early success, Mäkinen often found himself in less competitive situations. He joined works teams such as Mazda Rally Team Europe in 1991 and Nissan Motorsports Europe in 1992, driving a Mazda 323 GTX and a Nissan Sunny GTI-R respectively, but these teams and cars were not consistently competitive at the highest level. He continued to compete in the Finnish and Italian Rally Championships, alongside sporadic WRC appearances, enduring what he described as a "lean period".
A turning point in Mäkinen's career came at the 1994 1000 Lakes Rally. Struggling after a road accident involving their main driver François Delecour, the Ford World Rally Team saw Mäkinen as a potential catalyst. Driving a Ford Escort RS Cosworth, Mäkinen skillfully navigated the rally, outperforming leading contenders like Didier Auriol and Carlos Sainz to secure his maiden WRC victory. This impressive performance caught the attention of Mitsubishi Ralliart, the works team for Mitsubishi Motors, leading to a contract for Mäkinen to join their full-time lineup.
3. World Rally Championship Career (Driver)
Tommi Mäkinen's WRC career as a driver is largely defined by his periods with Mitsubishi and later Subaru, culminating in multiple world championships.
3.1. Mitsubishi Era (1995-2001)
Mäkinen's association with Mitsubishi began with a spot entry at the 1994 Rallye Sanremo, where he unfortunately retired. However, this rally was significant as it marked the debut of Mitsubishi's active differential system, which would become a key component in Mäkinen's future success.
His first full season with Mitsubishi in 1995 showcased the potential of both Mäkinen and the improved Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution car, which benefited from the newly introduced electronic active differential. At the second event, the Swedish Rally, Mäkinen displayed impressive pace, though he ultimately conceded victory to his teammate Kenneth Eriksson due to team orders. Despite flashes of speed throughout the season, his results were inconsistent, and he ended the year with scattered finishes.
The 1996 season marked the beginning of Mäkinen's dominance. Despite budget cuts at Mitsubishi's headquarters leading to a primary focus on a single car entry, the team concentrated its efforts on Mäkinen's title bid. Overcoming the instability of the previous year, Mäkinen consistently demonstrated remarkable speed, securing five victories out of nine rounds. He clinched his first WRC Drivers' Championship at the Rally Australia, solidifying his lead over rival Colin McRae of Subaru. This season initiated an era of unparalleled success for Mäkinen and the Lancer Evolution.
For the 1997 season, new World Rally Car (WRC) regulations were introduced, and while competitors like Subaru, Ford, and Toyota developed new WRC-spec cars, Mitsubishi decided to stick with the Group A regulations, fielding the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV. Mäkinen engaged in a fierce title battle with Colin McRae, ultimately prevailing by a single point in the final round to secure his second consecutive title. In 1998, a dramatic turn of events at the final rally, Rally GB, saw Mäkinen retire early, seemingly ending his championship hopes. However, Carlos Sainz's Toyota retired just 300 meters from the end of the final special stage, handing Mäkinen his third consecutive WRC title. In 1999, he successfully defended his title once more, matching Juha Kankkunen's record of four WRC titles, and becoming the first driver in history to achieve four consecutive championships. The 1998 season also saw Mitsubishi win its first and only Manufacturers' Championship, a testament to the combined strength of Mäkinen and the Lancer Evolution during this peak period.
To counter the increasingly potent WRC cars, Mitsubishi continued to evolve its Group A Lancer Evolution, releasing the Evolution V and VI. These iterations featured wider tracks, improved aerodynamics, and further advancements in the active differential. However, as WRC cars, with their broader modification allowances, gained significant performance advantages, the Group A Lancers faced disadvantages, including being forced to adopt smaller front and rear spoilers to comply with WRC regulations. This shift in competitive landscape began to show in Mäkinen's performance. In 2000, he lost the championship to Marcus Grönholm of Peugeot, finishing fifth in the season standings. To commemorate Mäkinen's four championships, Mitsubishi released a "Tommi Mäkinen Edition" of the road-version Lancer Evolution VI in 2000. This special edition featured a unique front bumper and, in some models, a distinctive red and white paint scheme reminiscent of his rally car, a rare honor among WRC drivers.
Recognizing the need to adapt, Mitsubishi finally transitioned from Group A to a full WRC car in 2001. The interim Lancer Evolution 6.5, with special modifications like a lighter flywheel and increased rear suspension travel, allowed Mäkinen to secure three victories at the beginning of the season. However, the introduction of the new Mitsubishi Lancer WRC from the 11th round at Sanremo proved problematic. Mäkinen and his teammate Freddy Loix struggled with the new car, and Mäkinen's crash in Corsica caused a severe back injury to his long-time co-driver, Risto Mannisenmäki, effectively ending Mannisenmäki's top-level career. Mäkinen was forced to use substitute co-drivers for the remaining events, and he ultimately finished third in the 2001 standings behind Richard Burns and Colin McRae.
3.2. Subaru Era and Retirement (2002-2003)
In 2002, Mäkinen departed from Mitsubishi after a seven-year tenure, driven by a desire to experience other works teams. He joined the Prodrive-run Subaru World Rally Team, replacing Richard Burns. His debut with Subaru at the 2002 Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo yielded his final career victory, which came after on-the-road winner Sébastien Loeb was disqualified due to a technical infringement. However, Mäkinen's form subsequently declined, and he struggled to adapt to the new Subaru Impreza WRC 2002 as the season progressed, achieving only two third-place finishes and ending the year in eighth position.
In 2003, Mäkinen secured a second-place finish at the Swedish Rally. However, with the rapid ascent of his teammate Petter Solberg, Mäkinen shifted his focus to supporting Solberg's championship bid. The rise of young talents like Solberg, Sébastien Loeb, and Markko Märtin contributed to Mäkinen's decision to retire from active driving at the end of the season. He announced his retirement after his home rally in Finland. His farewell event was the final rally of the season, Rally GB, where he drove with "golden shoes" and finished on the podium in third place. This rally symbolized a generational shift in the WRC, with Solberg winning the event and the championship, while Mäkinen and long-time rival Colin McRae (also in his last full-time season) completed their storied careers. Mäkinen's record of four consecutive WRC titles was later surpassed by Sébastien Loeb, who went on to win nine consecutive championships.
4. Post-Retirement Career
After his retirement as a WRC driver, Tommi Mäkinen remained deeply involved in motorsport, transitioning into various significant roles.
4.1. Tommi Mäkinen Racing (TMR)
In 2004, Mäkinen established his own company, Tommi Mäkinen Racing Oy Ltd (TMR), based near his hometown of Jyväskylä, Finland. The primary aim of TMR was to prepare rally cars and provide comprehensive support to drivers. TMR specialized in the import, construction, sales, and development of Subaru WRX STI cars modified to Group N and Group R4 specifications. The company also operated as a rally team, competing in the Finnish Rally Championship. Notably, in 2009, TMR fielded Kimi Räikkönen in a WRC event at Rally Finland. Mäkinen himself remained actively involved in vehicle development, participating in test drives for production-version WRX STi cars annually until 2010. In April 2010, driving a four-door Subaru Impreza WRX STI at the Nürburgring, he set a lap time of 7 minutes 55 seconds. TMR also provided support to drivers like Toshihiro Arai, who competed in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2012 with an Impreza R4.
4.2. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Team Principal
Mäkinen's path to becoming a team principal for Toyota began unexpectedly. Despite never having driven for Toyota during his active WRC career, a direct driving lesson he gave to Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation, in Hokkaido in January 2014, sparked a strong rapport between the two. Later that year, at Rally Finland, Toyoda even participated in a performance run with Mäkinen in a TMR-prepared Toyota 86 rally car.
When Toyota announced its return to the WRC in January 2015, Mäkinen was subsequently revealed as the team principal for the new Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT in the summer of the same year. This decision faced internal and external opposition, as many expected the role to go to Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) in Germany, the successor to the successful Toyota Team Europe (TTE) from Toyota's previous WRC era. However, Toyoda's conviction and enthusiasm, stemming from his understanding of Mäkinen's character, prevailed. The car development base was expanded at Mäkinen's TMR facility in Finland, while engine development was handled by TMG. Toyota re-entered the WRC in 2017 with the Toyota Yaris WRC.
Mäkinen's stringent pursuit of victory and his strong team-building capabilities garnered high praise. Fortuitously, the sudden withdrawal of Volkswagen Motorsport from the WRC allowed Toyota to secure the services of driver Jari-Matti Latvala. With a development period of just 18 months, Toyota achieved a victory in only their second rally back. The following year, with the outstanding performance of Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, Toyota clinched five wins, including three consecutive victories, securing the Manufacturers' title in their second year back in the WRC. In 2019 and 2020, the team went on to win the Drivers' and Co-Drivers' titles. Mäkinen's success as a team principal, reaching the pinnacle of rally sport, validated Toyoda's confidence in him. In recognition of his achievement as a world champion driver and team principal, Mäkinen was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in January 2019.
Mäkinen continued TMR's activities in parallel, overseeing the development of young drivers like Takamoto Katsuta and Hiroki Arai for Toyota Gazoo Racing, fielding them in the Finnish Rally Championship and WRC2. However, Mäkinen's intense leadership style reportedly had a strong, authoritative side. Some staff members and drivers left the team citing heavy workloads or disagreements with him. Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, who won the WRC championship in 2019, are notable examples of those who departed. Additionally, three staff members, including technical director Michael Zotos (who had a long-standing relationship with Mäkinen since his Subaru days), also left the team.
In 2021, Mäkinen transitioned to the role of Motorsports Advisor for Toyota, handing over the team principal position to Jari-Matti Latvala. Concurrently, the car development operations were transferred to Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe (TGR-E, formerly TMG), marking Mäkinen's effective step back from direct management of the WRC team.
5. Driving Style and Characteristics
Tommi Mäkinen's driving style was distinct and highly effective, characterized by his strategic approach to rallies. He typically focused on gaining significant advantages over rivals on his favored stages, then managed his lead during the latter parts of the rally to secure victory. This strategy was particularly evident in events like Monte Carlo and his home rally in Finland.
Despite being a Finnish driver, traditionally associated with gravel and snow, Mäkinen was remarkably proficient on tarmac rallies. He showcased his skill by winning the 1997 Rallye Catalunya by a mere seven seconds over Piero Liatti of Subaru. He achieved four consecutive victories at the Rallye Automobile Monte Carlo from 1999 to 2002 and two consecutive wins at Rallye Sanremo in 1998 and 1999. His Monte Carlo winning streak (four consecutive wins from 1999 to 2002) and Finland winning streak (five consecutive wins) were later surpassed by Sébastien Loeb and then Sébastien Ogier (Monte Carlo). Mäkinen's four total wins at Monte Carlo are tied with Walter Röhrl for the most, a record later exceeded by Loeb.
Conversely, Mäkinen notably struggled with the twisty and unique courses of the Tour de Corse. His second appearance in 1997 ended dramatically when he collided with a cow while flat-out at 124 mph (200 km/h), sending his car 164 ft (50 m) down a cliff, though miraculously he emerged unharmed. In 1998, he retired due to an ECU problem. His final appearance in Corsica in 2001, driving the new, unrefined Mitsubishi WRC, resulted in a major accident where his car hit a rock, overturned, and nearly fell off a cliff. This incident caused a serious back injury to his co-driver, Risto Mannisenmäki, leading to a long recovery period and the introduction of Kaj Lindström as a substitute.
Mäkinen preferred a very stiff suspension setup for his rally cars, a preference so extreme that it reportedly astonished the experienced engineers at Prodrive.
6. Personal Life
Tommi Mäkinen was born in Puuppola, a locality near Jyväskylä, Finland. Since 1999, he has maintained residences in both Jyväskylä and Monte Carlo, Monaco. He is married and has two children. He is not related to the earlier "Flying Finn" rally driver Timo Mäkinen, who was prominent in the 1950s-1970s.
7. Legacy and Reception
Tommi Mäkinen's career left an indelible mark on the World Rally Championship, both through his achievements as a driver and his impactful leadership as a team principal.
7.1. Achievements and Honors
As a driver, Mäkinen's most significant accomplishment is his unprecedented four consecutive WRC Drivers' Championships from 1996 to 1999, all achieved with Mitsubishi. He accumulated a total of 24 WRC victories, placing him among the most successful drivers in the history of the championship. He also secured 45 podium finishes and won 361 individual stages throughout his WRC career, earning a total of 544 points. In 1998, he played a crucial role in securing Mitsubishi's sole WRC Manufacturers' title. He also won the 2000 Race of Champions.
Post-retirement, his leadership as team principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT led the team to the WRC Manufacturers' title in 2018 and consecutive Drivers' and Co-Drivers' titles in 2019 and 2020. This unique achievement of winning championships as both a driver and a team principal cemented his legacy. In January 2019, Mäkinen was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame, recognizing his immense contributions to motorsport.
7.2. Criticism and Controversies
While highly praised for his strict focus on performance and team building, Mäkinen's intense leadership style as a team principal also drew criticism. Some staff members and drivers reportedly departed from the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT team due to the demanding work environment or disagreements with his approach. Notable examples include the departure of the 2019 WRC champions, Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja, who left the team after winning the title. Additionally, technical staff, including Michael Zotos, who had a long-standing relationship with Mäkinen since his Subaru days, also left the team, indicating a pattern of personnel changes under his strong leadership.
8. Anecdotes
- To celebrate his four consecutive WRC Drivers' Championship titles, Mitsubishi released a special road-legal version of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI, known as the "Tommi Mäkinen Edition," on January 8, 2000. This is a rare honor in motorsport, with only a few other WRC drivers having cars named after them, such as the Toyota Celica GT-Four RC (ST185) "Carlos Sainz Limited Edition," the Subaru Impreza WRX (GC8) "Series McRae" for Colin McRae, and the Citroën C4 "C4 by LOEB" for Sébastien Loeb.
- During his dominant era with Mitsubishi, Mäkinen was the undisputed number one driver. This often meant that his teammates either moved to other teams or saw their performance decline. Freddy Loix, who was a second driver for Mitsubishi from 1999 to 2001, was once considered a future champion but struggled to adapt to the team's Mäkinen-centric operations, with his results notably falling below his performance during his time with Toyota. Conversely, Richard Burns, Mäkinen's teammate from 1996 to 1998, secured his first two victories in 1998 before moving to Subaru and becoming a regular championship contender.
- In contrast to the more outgoing and talkative Juha Kankkunen, Mäkinen was known for being taciturn. However, after his retirement, he revealed a more cheerful side in Japanese automotive videos.
- Mäkinen was deeply affected by the accidental death of his predecessor as WRC champion, Colin McRae, in 2007. The two had been long-time rivals and friends, having had a private conversation in their cars at the service park during their final rally together at Rally GB in 2003.
- When Mitsubishi announced the suspension of its WRC activities in 2003, Mäkinen, then at Subaru, expressed his regret, stating that it was "very unfortunate that the team I once belonged to would not be participating."
- At the 2003 Tour de Corse, during a Thursday shakedown, teammate Petter Solberg had a major crash, severely damaging his car. Mäkinen offered his own car to Solberg if regulations permitted the exchange, though it was not allowed. Inspired by Mäkinen's gesture, the Prodrive mechanics worked overnight to repair Solberg's car, which he then drove to victory in the rally, aided by rapidly changing weather conditions. Later, at Rally GB, Mäkinen's final race, he conducted tire tests for Solberg to help him secure the championship.
- As team principal of the Toyota WRC team, Mäkinen held a strong conviction about making cars easy for drivers to handle, prioritizing this over sheer speed. He actively participated as a development driver for the Toyota Yaris WRC and even requested Toyota Motorsport GmbH to redesign the engine four times from scratch over 18 months. Toyota President Akio Toyoda deeply resonated with Mäkinen's philosophy of car-making, which fostered their collaboration and led to Toyota's return to the WRC.
- Mäkinen served as a stunt double for Jackie Chan in the movie Thunderbolt, playing the role of a Mitsubishi contracted driver.
- His favorite Japanese snack is 'Jagarico', a popular potato snack. In a taste-test challenge, he declared the Yuzu Pepper flavor his favorite.
9. Career Statistics
9.1. WRC Victories
| Number | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44th 1000 Lakes Rally | 1994 | Seppo Harjanne | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 2 | 45th International Swedish Rally | 1996 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 |
| 3 | 44th Safari Rally Kenya | 1996 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 |
| 4 | 16º Rally Argentina | 1996 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 |
| 5 | 46th Neste 1000 Lakes Rally | 1996 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 |
| 6 | 9th API Rally Australia | 1996 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3 |
| 7 | 30º TAP Rallye de Portugal | 1997 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 |
| 8 | 33º Rallye Catalunya-Costa Brava (Rallye de España) | 1997 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 |
| 9 | 17º Rally Argentina | 1997 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 |
| 10 | 47th Neste Rally Finland | 1997 | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 |
| 11 | 47th International Swedish Rally | 1998 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 |
| 12 | 18º Rally Argentina | 1998 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 |
| 13 | 48th Neste Rally Finland | 1998 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 |
| 14 | 40º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia | 1998 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 |
| 15 | 11th API Rally Australia | 1998 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 |
| 16 | 67ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo | 1999 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 |
| 17 | 48th International Swedish Rally | 1999 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 |
| 18 | 29th Rally New Zealand | 1999 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 |
| 19 | 41º Rallye Sanremo - Rallye d'Italia | 1999 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 |
| 20 | 68ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo | 2000 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6 |
| 21 | 69ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo | 2001 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 |
| 22 | 35º TAP Rallye de Portugal | 2001 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 |
| 23 | 49th Safari Rally Kenya | 2001 | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 |
| 24 | 70ème Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo | 2002 | Kaj Lindström | Subaru Impreza WRC2001 |
9.2. WRC Results
| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Tommi Mäkinen | Lancia Delta HF 4WD | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | USA | NZL | ARG | Ret FIN | CIV | ITA | GBR | - | 0 | |
| 1988 | Tommi Mäkinen | Lancia Delta HF 4WD | MON | SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | USA | NZL | ARG | Ret FIN | CIV | ITA | - | 0 | ||
| Mu-Uutiset 4 Rombi Corse | Lancia Delta Integrale | Ret GBR | ||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Tommi Mäkinen | Lancia Delta Integrale | Ret SWE | MON | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | NZL | ARG | Ret FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | GBR | - | 0 | |
| 1990 | Pro Sport Rally Team | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 | MON | POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | 6 NZL | ARG | 11 FIN | 7 AUS | 13 ITA | CIV | Ret GBR | 24th | 10 | ||
| 1991 | Promoracing Finland | Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 | MON | 13 SWE | 31st | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Tommi Mäkinen | Ret POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | ||||||||||||||
| Promoracing Finland | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 | Ret NZL | ARG | |||||||||||||||
| Mazda Rally Team Europe | Mazda 323 GTX | 5 FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | ESP | Ret GBR | |||||||||||
| 1992 | Nissan Motorsports Europe | Nissan Sunny GTI-R | 9 MON | SWE | Ret POR | KEN | FRA | GRC | NZL | ARG | Ret FIN | AUS | ITA | CIV | ESP | 8 GBR | 40th | 5 |
| 1993 | Astra | Lancia Delta HF Integrale | MON | 4 SWE | POR | KEN | FRA | 6 GRE | ARG | NZL | 4 FIN | AUS | ITA | ESP | GBR | 10th | 26 | |
| 1994 | Nissan F2 | Nissan Sunny GTI | MON | Ret POR | KEN | FRA | GRE | ARG | NZL | 9 GBR | 10th | 22 | ||||||
| Ford Motor Co | Ford Escort RS Cosworth | 1 FIN | ||||||||||||||||
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II | Ret ITA | ||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II | 4 MON | 2 SWE | 5th | 38 | ||||||||||||
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | POR | 8 FRA | Ret NZL | 4 AUS | Ret ESP | Ret GBR | ||||||||||||
| 1996 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III | 1 SWE | 1 KEN | Ret IDN | 2 GRE | 1 ARG | 1 FIN | 1 AUS | Ret ITA | 5 ESP | 1st | 123 | |||||
| 1997 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | 3 MON | 3 SWE | Ret KEN | 1 POR | 1 ESP | Ret FRA | 1 ARG | 3 GRE | Ret NZL | 1 FIN | Ret IDN | 3 ITA | 2 AUS | 6 GBR | 1st | 63 |
| 1998 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV | Ret MON | 1 SWE | Ret KEN | Ret POR | 1st | 58 | ||||||||||
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V | 3 ESP | Ret FRA | 1 ARG | Ret GRE | 3 NZL | 1 FIN | 1 ITA | 1 AUS | Ret GBR | |||||||||
| 1999 | Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 1 MON | 1 SWE | DSQ KEN | 5 POR | 3 ESP | 6 FRA | 4 ARG | 3 GRE | 1 NZL | Ret FIN | Ret CHN | 1 ITA | 3 AUS | Ret GBR | 1st | 62 |
| 2000 | Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | 1 MON | 2 SWE | Ret KEN | Ret POR | 4 ESP | 3 ARG | Ret GRE | Ret NZL | 4 FIN | 5 CYP | Ret FRA | 3 ITA | DSQ AUS | 3 GBR | 5th | 36 |
| 2001 | Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 | 1 MON | Ret SWE | 1 POR | 3 ESP | 4 ARG | Ret CYP | 4 GRE | 1 KEN | Ret FIN | 8 NZL | 3rd | 41 | ||||
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII WRC | Ret ITA | Ret FRA | 6 AUS | Ret GBR | ||||||||||||||
| 2002 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza WRC2001 | 1 MON | Ret SWE | 8th | 22 | ||||||||||||
| Subaru Impreza WRC2002 | Ret FRA | Ret ESP | 3 CYP | Ret ARG | Ret GRE | Ret KEN | 6 FIN | 7 GER | Ret ITA | 3 NZL | DSQ AUS | 4 GBR | ||||||
| 2003 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | Subaru Impreza WRC2003 | Ret MON | 2 SWE | 8 TUR | 7 NZL | Ret ARG | 5 GRE | Ret CYP | Ret GER | 6 FIN | 6 AUS | 10 ITA | 7 FRA | 8 ESP | 3 GBR | 8th | 30 |
9.2.1. WRC Summary
| Season | Team | Starts | Victories | Podiums | Stage wins | DNF | Points | Final result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Private | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC |
| 1988 | Private | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC |
| Mu-Uutiset 4 Rombi Corse | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1989 | Private | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | NC |
| 1990 | Pro Sport Rally Team | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 24th |
| 1991 | Promoracing Finland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31st |
| Mazda Rally Team Europe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | ||
| Private | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1992 | Nissan Motorsports Europe | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 40th |
| 1993 | Astra | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 10th |
| 1994 | Nissan F2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10th |
| Ford Motor Co | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 20 | ||
| Mitsubishi Ralliart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | 7 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 38 | 5th |
| 1996 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | 9 | 5 | 6 | 70 | 2 | 123 | 1st |
| 1997 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | 14 | 4 | 9 | 78 | 4 | 63 | 1st |
| 1998 | Mitsubishi Ralliart | 13 | 5 | 7 | 41 | 6 | 58 | 1st |
| 1999 | Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart | 14 | 4 | 7 | 56 | 3 | 62 | 1st |
| 2000 | Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart | 14 | 1 | 5 | 27 | 5 | 36 | 5th |
| 2001 | Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart | 14 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 6 | 41 | 3rd |
| 2002 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 14 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 7 | 22 | 8th |
| 2003 | 555 Subaru World Rally Team | 14 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 30 | 8th |
| Total | 139 | 24 | 45 | 361 | 53 | 544 | ||