Over five years ago, Toyota signed Kalle Rovanperä to its rally squad. Since then, the Finnish star has claimed two drivers’ world titles alongside Jonne Halttunen.
Sami Pajari, meanwhile, made his debut in Toyota’s Rally1 car last season. This year, he secured a full-time seat with the reigning WRC champions.
And it might not be long before another Finnish driver joins Toyota’s ranks. The team already has one promising talent on its radar.
That driver is, of course, Tuukka Kauppinen, whose potential has been well known in rally circles for years. Now 18, the Finnish hopeful has been making headlines with his impressive performances this season.
Kauppinen made a huge statement at the Arctic Rally in late January and early February. Representing Rautio Motorsport, the young driver dominated the classic event, even beating seasoned competitor Esapekka Lappi. He also outpaced Kalle Rovanperä, who entered the event for testing purposes.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala was present at the Arctic Rally, where he kept a close eye on Kauppinen’s performance.
“He was extremely strong in the Arctic Rally. It was an amazing achievement to drive that fast under pressure. Esapekka was pushing him hard, but he didn’t make any mistakes,” Latvala told RallyJournal.com.
Since then, Kauppinen has been competing almost every weekend. At Rally Sweden, he faced disappointment after being forced to retire once due to an off-road excursion. He had a similar experience at last weekend’s Savonlinna Rally, where he once again had to dig himself out of the snow.
However, one thing is clear: Kauppinen has serious speed. Even in the challenging conditions of the Savonlinna Rally, he was battling with Lappi before getting caught out by the slushy roads.
Toyota acknowledges that Kauppinen is a raw diamond that still needs polishing. While the team has not signed him yet, that could change in the future.
“Let’s just say that we are following the situation. Of course, it’s interesting that he drives a Toyota. But we are monitoring his development and seeing what happens,” Latvala emphasised.
At the end of the winter season, Kauppinen sits second in the SM1 class standings, trailing Teemu Asunmaa. In addition to the Finnish Rally Championship, Kauppinen is set to compete in the European Rally Championship and the Italian tarmac rally series with Lancia’s new Rally4 car. His 2025 programme also includes the WRC rounds in Estonia and Finland this summer.
