Jani Pirttinen
Finland (FIN) |
CAREER
PROFILE1996: Started rallying with Opel Astra
1997: Finished 32nd in Rally Finland with Opel Astra on his WRC debut, Finnish Champion (gr. N up to 2000cc) 1998: Switch to VW, First F2-category win on Waltikka Rally 1999: Drives VW 2000: Drives VW, Finnish Champion (gr. A up to 2000cc) 2001: Drives VW
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| Date of Birth: 5/5/1975 at Ylihärmä Marital status: Hobbies:
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| Jani Pirttinen
started off his motorsport career as a motocross-rider at the age of 12. He achieved quite
a lot of success and his career became continously more international. However, due to
several injuries he had to give up riding. It was not an easy decision, not at all. But he
wanted to participate in motorsports despite the fact that his motocross career had just
ended. Consequently, he moved to Formula Fords and tried it in 1994 and 1995 both in
Finland and abroad. Pirttinen had also bought a rallycar to maintain his driving skills during the wintertime when all the Formula Ford circuits in Finland are covered by snow. But soon he realized he was even more interested in rallying than Formula Fords. Thanks to his enthusiasm, he started to practise hard and determinously to become a succesful B-rallyjunior. When the rally season of 1996 was turning to its end, Pirttinen made an interesting decision. After just a year of rallying he decided to take a major step to the top level of national rallying, Finnish Rally Championship that is. The Finnish Rally Championship 1997 was the right decision. On the opening round (The Arctic Rally) he finished 7th in his class, and on the second round he improved and finished 5th. The last winter event of 1997 saw him taking the first class victory ever on this level. First ever WRC-event in August went very well indeed, Pirttinen finished 2nd in his class. That was the case in other summer events, too. And the result was sensational; on his very first attempt in the Finnish Rally Championship Jani Pirttinen took the championship crown in his class. From the Group N Pirttinen then moved on to a very competitive Group A (up to 2000cc). To make sure the car is competitive enough, the new car in the carage was to be VW Golf Kit Car and the man to co-drive for Jani very experienced Timo Hantunen. Hantunen has a great record as a co-driver for several succesful drivers in Finland, and now he was there to bring some experience into a team which had a young and enthusiastic driver. The first year with a new car was an instant success; silver medals came after a hard battle. Target for the following season was, of course, no less than the championship crown. Partly because of mechanical failures and other reasons a tough battle for the title didn't bring the crown to Pirttinen's team. So, they received another silver trophy. "Third time's the charm" Season 2000 finally gave Pirttinen what he had desider for two years; the championship. All the old fellas had to rise their hands and confess that the young star has taken over in the F2. In addition, he dominated the F2 category on the Finnish WRC-rally in style as well as made a succesful invasion to the British Rally Championship to accompany Tapio Laukkanen. The first attempt came to an unexpected end as he had to retire. But on the second attempt Pirttinen showed what he's really capable of; 7th overall and 4th in the F2. In 2001 the main target was the German Rally Championship. There were seven rounds of which the majority was on tarmac. Thanks to the importer of VW cars and Lehtonen Motorsports it was made possible for Pirttinen to be the happy owner of the first ever VW Golf Mk IV in Finland. For the season 2002 Malks Promotion, which had helped to co-ordinate his career, terminated its contract with Pirttinen and they no longer required the services of Finnish driver. It seems that his career is over, but everything is still possible. |
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