Joona, 28, will compete next week in the Croatia ERC round with a Škoda Rally2 car. Alongside him is a new co-driver, Kristian Temonen, who has read notes this season for both Benjamin Korhola and Mikko Heikkilä.
The Croatia ERC rally was not part of Joona’s original plans for the season, but the chance arose thanks to the support of tyre manufacturer MRF. He will represent the Indian company’s team in the European Championship round.
“Team MRF Tyres is a great opportunity for me and I want to give my absolute best. It is a crucial rally for Team MRF Tyres, so the focus and preparation will be very important,” Joona said.
“I know it will be a tough challenge, but I am ready to face it and I am really looking forward to this experience.”
The asphalt roads around Zagreb are familiar to Joona, as he has taken part three times in the Croatian WRC round. This time Croatia hosts an ERC event on the same stages, but next year the event will return to the WRC calendar.
Another Finnish driver has also represented MRF this year. Roope Korhonen competed in four ERC rounds for the tyre manufacturer’s red-and-white team, winning in Hungary and finishing second in Sweden.
Joona has contested six rounds of the WRC2 class this year, with a best result of fourth place in Sweden.
The Croatia ERC rally takes place next week, from 3–5 October. Mikolaj Marczyk, Andrea Mabellini and Jon Armstrong will fight for the European title in the season finale.
Other WRC2 regulars will also be in action, including Nikolay Gryazin, Romet Jürgenson, Robert Virves, Leo Rossel and Yuki Yamamoto. Hyundai WRC driver Adrien Fourmaux will meanwhile compete in a national event run alongside the ERC round, using a Rally1 car for testing purposes.
