Tommi Mäkinen

Tommi Mäkinen, born on June twenty-sixth, nineteen sixty-four, is a distinguished Finnish racing executive and former rally driver. He made a significant mark in the world of motorsport as the team principal of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT from two thousand sixteen until his departure at the end of two thousand twenty, after which he transitioned to the role of Toyota's motorsport advisor.

Renowned for his exceptional skills behind the wheel, Mäkinen is celebrated as one of the most successful World Rally drivers in history. He ranks fifth in rally wins with twenty-four victories and third in championships with four titles, sharing this honor with fellow driver Juha Kankkunen, while trailing only behind legends Sébastien Ogier and Sébastien Loeb, both of whom have nine championships to their names.

In two thousand eighteen, Mäkinen achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first individual to win a Championship both as a driver and as a team principal, showcasing his versatility and leadership in the sport. His remarkable career includes four consecutive World Rally Championships, which he won and defended from nineteen ninety-six to nineteen ninety-nine, all while driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Beyond his individual accolades, Mäkinen played a pivotal role in securing Mitsubishi's world constructors' title in nineteen ninety-eight and triumphed in the two thousand Race of Champions. Throughout his career, he collaborated with notable navigators, including Seppo Harjanne, Kaj Lindström, and Risto Mannisenmäki, the latter having previously partnered with the nineteen eighty-five champion, Timo Salonen.