The duo became very close friends back in 2017 when Hänninen and Latvala were teammates at Toyota.
Their strong connection has continued even though both of their careers as top drivers have come to an end. Latvala now serves as Toyota’s team principal, while Hänninen helps to develop Toyota’s young talents.
However, neither has fully stepped away from driving. This year, the duo drove together for the second time in Rally Finland, with Jari-Matti behind the wheel and Juho reading the notes.
“I have known Jari-Matti for a long time and we are friends together. I know that I can help him and support him and it’s more like from that side, like a friendship,” Hänninen told Dirtfish.
And you don’t leave a friend in the lurch. When a friend asks for help, you always help.
“(For example) Rally Finland I gave him a few options because there are these junior guys I’m working with, and I said I would basically need to be with the boys. But Jari-Matti said ‘no no, you need to be with me’ and then I gave him a few options but he said ‘no, no I need you’ so OK I came,” Hänninen laughed.
“I said to Jari-Matti before Rally Finland that if I’m not fully wrong we both would have real work to do this week! I am helping the Challenge Program guys Yuki (Yamamoto) and Hikaru (Kogure) and he said ‘yeah yeah yeah you can talk with them on the road sections’,” Hänninen continued humorously.
Hänninen feels that his personality is well-suited to reading notes alongside Latvala.
“As we all know Jari-Matti as a person and as a driver, he’s quite emotional and in a way sensitive so I’m just trying to keep it more relaxed and nothing serious. OK in the stages we are working and doing the work there and this year really trying to do our best but all the rest between the stages it’s just keeping him as relaxed as possible,” Hänninen said.
Hänninen also had the opportunity to continue as Latvala’s co-driver in last weekend’s Lahti Historic Rally, but instead, the seat went to Janni Hussi. The change suited Hänninen just fine.
“I said to Jari-Matti my mental recovering has barely even started after Rally Finland, so no chance to be in the car this weekend,” Hänninen laughed.
” I asked her (Janni) about this, and she was so pumped. And I said ‘OK, the place is yours, you will go there,” Hänninen added.
Hussi made her debut as Latvala’s co-driver in Lahti, and it looks like there could be more to come.
“It’s nice that they both are quite excited so I think it might work together, and hopefully Janni will be also next year there with Jari-Matti,” Hänninen said.
But what about Hänninen himself? Will he be seen as a co-driver again?
“Last year was supposed to be the last one, this year OK now he said already before the rally that we have to come here next year because there is again another explanation or reason for him to drive,” Hänninen laughed and continued:
“I think as long as someone will give him a car he will find some reason why he has to do it!”
