As a co-driver, Halttunen won two World Rally Championship titles alongside Kalle Rovanperä. Rovanperä switched to formula racing for this season, prompting Halttunen to seek new challenges behind the wheel.
Halttunen had already revealed earlier that he will compete this year in Finland’s domestic F-Cup rally series. On Sunday, he shared further details about his new project.
“I get to fulfil a childhood dream and step behind the wheel as a driver in the F-Cup rally series. The car will be the legendary Toyota Corolla GT AE86, and the class will be 2WD Notes. Sitting next to me as co-driver will be my good friend and a true professional, Tuukka Shemeikka,” Halttunen said in an Instagram post.
“In addition to the rallies, the project will also be filmed as a TV series, which will be released later this year – more on that later!”
Halttunen will not be the only driver in his team, as a Finnish driver with World Championship experience will also join as a team-mate.
”Last year’s champion Eerik Pietarinen will also be driving for Jorma J Motorsport in the team points. A strong addition to the team,” Halttunen enthused.
Pietarinen, 32, won the SM1 class title in the Finnish Rally Championship in 2018. In the same year, he also claimed a WRC2 class victory at Rally Finland. Last season, Pietarinen secured the F-Cup notes category championship.
Halttunen will get fully up to speed as early as next week, when he lines up with co-driver Shemeikka at the Laukaa-Uurainen Winter Rally.
More news from Halttunen is expected in the near future, as he recently hinted that he has found a new job within rallying. Halttunen had previously said that he would be interested in working, for example, with Toyota’s WRC team or within the World Rally Championship organisation.
An announcement regarding Halttunen’s new professional role may already be made next week.
