Hänninen is set to call pacenotes for Latvala once more when the duo competes in the Savonlinna SM- rally, part of the Finnish Rally Championship on 8 March.
The pair last worked together in the past year, with Hänninen co-driving for Latvala in both the Arctic Lapland Rally and Rally Finland.
Hänninen and Latvala have always had fun together. From an outsider’s perspective, they seem to complement each other well. But does the generally more composed Hänninen ever have to calm Latvala down, and does the most experienced driver in WRC history actually listen?
“He does listen, but not always on the first try,” Hänninen laughed on the SM Savonlinna Rally podcast.
“But if I change my tone a little, then the message gets through,” he added.
Hänninen pointed out that there’s no need to hold Latvala back when there’s something serious at stake in a competition.
“I haven’t really had to slow him down much. Last year in Jyväskylä, I didn’t hold him back at all because we were actually fighting for position. The same goes for Savonlinna now. I won’t be holding back one bit. We’re going there to get a good result, and I won’t be slowing him down at all,” Hänninen promised.
Hänninen hails from Punkaharju, making the Savonlinna Finnish Championship rally a home event for him. The decision to enter was an easy one.
“As soon as the calendar was released and I saw this rally, I messaged Jari-Matti that same day and said we’re going. It’s been locked in ever since,” Hänninen revealed.
The Savonlinna Rally rally will feature several interesting names in the main class, as alongside Latvala, Esapekka Lappi and young rally talent Tuukka Kauppinen will also be competing.
