Hussi made her debut as a co-driver one and a half years ago alongside Sami Pajari in Lahti Historic Rally. What started as a joke became a new passion for Hussi. Last season, she was seen in the Finnish Rally Championship series with Heikki Kovalainen and in the European Rally Championship as Joona’s co-driver.
This weekend, Hussi made her WRC2 debut with Joona. They finished sixth in the WRC2 class and also secured one World Championship point.
Rally Sweden concluded at Umeå’s Red Barn Arena, where Hussi was visibly emotional at the finish line.
“I’m just crying and shaking. This was so cool,” Hussi exclaimed to RallyJournal.com.
Hussi has taken an exceptional path to the world of rallying. Not so long ago, she was working on a radio show, but a call from Sami Pajari live on air turned her career around
Hussi has also faced harsh and sometimes bitter criticism. How can a well-known media personality become a co-driver at the highest level of rally almost overnight? Is it just a media stunt to gain more visibility?
At the finish line in Umeå it was clear just how seriously Hussi takes her role as a co-driver. She’s fully committed and gives her all to the sport.
“I’ve received so much feedback saying it wouldn’t lead nowhere, and it wouldn’t work. And now we’re here, so it feels really good,” Hussi said, breaking down in tears.
At this point, the interview had to be paused momentarily.
So, let’s ask Lauri Joona how Hussi performed in her first appearance in the World Rally Championship series.
“Janni’s performance deserves a ten out of ten and a parrot badge. She kept perfectly on pace in challenging conditions,” Joona praised.
“The fact that (emotions were running high for Hussi) definitely shows that we’re doing this job with all our might, and she enjoys it and wants to be the best in her role, just as I do,” Joona added.
Hussi has received support for her co-driving duties from Marko Salminen, who has read pace notes for Teemu Suninen. The first steps of Hussi and Salminen’s collaboration were taken in August 2022 at Lahti Historic Rally, where Hussi sat in the co-driver’s seat for the first time.
“I like Marko. He’s precise and straightforward. The feedback comes immediately,” Hussi described.
Hussi’s entire early year has been all about rallying. In January, she was involved in note-taking for Rally Monte Carlo, after which she participated in Arctic Lapland Rally with Joona, part of the Finnish Rally Championship series. Then began intense preparation for Rally Sweden.
At the start of the competition on Thursday, Hussi experienced one of the most memorable moments of her life.
“No job gig or live broadcast has ever made me so nervous. I had to think about what was going to come out next. Am I crazy for doing this to myself? But once we got moving, the worst of the nerves dissipated,” Hussi recounted.
