Joona began this season with Janni Hussi as they aimed for success in the WRC2 category of the World Rally Championship. However, following the conclusion of Rally Finland just over a week ago, Hussi announced that she had already decided that Jyväskylä would be their final event together.
At the same time, Hussi mentioned that she would continue her co-driving career but did not reveal her next move.
Read more: Janni Hussi makes a surprising rally decision – posts emotional message
Joona, on the other hand, revealed on Monday that he will start a new partnership with Ville Mannisenmäki. Mannisenmäki, 29, is a second-generation co-driver; his father, Risto Mannisenmäki, won two world championships alongside Tommi Mäkinen.
Ville Mannisenmäki has spent the past few years as Teemu Asunmaa’s co-driver. Last season, they won the SM1 class title in the Finnish Rally Championship.
Now, Mannisenmäki faces his first WRC event outside of Finland.
“Greece is known for its challenging and rough conditions. I’ll be competing there with Ville Mannisenmäki, who, despite his young age, has over ten years of experience in both national and international events,” Joona wrote in a Facebook post.
“Big thanks Janni for a great job this season. I wish you the best of luck for the upcoming adventures,” Joona added.
Mannisenmäki has participated in Rally Finland four times, most recently just over a week ago. He has also competed internationally ten times: six events in the Baltics and four rounds of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship with Jari Ketomaa during the 2017 season.
Next week, Mannisenmäki will compete in the Finnish Rally Championship round in Lahti with Asunmaa. After that, he will begin preparations for his first rally with Joona.
Janni Hussi will also be present in Lahti, but she will be co-driving in the Lahti Historic Rally, reading notes for Toyota WRC team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
Read also: Dani Sordo still has a role in WRC – but will this be his last time?
