Paraguayan President Santiago Peña travelled to Rally Finland with his delegation to learn more about organising a world championship rally. While the South American nation prepares to stage its inaugural WRC event, Finland has hosted top-tier rallies since the very beginning of the championship.
During his visit to Finland, Peña was guided by four-time world champion and former Toyota WRC team principal Tommi Mäkinen. On Thursday, the president visited Mäkinen’s estate in Puuppola and even got the thrill of riding alongside the rally legend. For the 46-year-old head of state, it was his first-ever ride in a rally car.
“I sat next to Tommi yesterday and he was driving very, very fast. At the end, I asked you how fast you were. Well, he answered that it was 50%. But he was still super fast,” Peña laughed while speaking at the Rally Finland service park.
But Peña had a surprise anecdote to share — one not many people know.
“But before that, he sat next to me. I was driving and he was sitting. So I don’t think too many people can say that they were driving as Tommi their co-pilot. I was driving a tractor, but I think that counts,” he said with a grin.
At the end of the visit, Peña extended a special invitation to Mäkinen. The president, who said he grew up watching rallies in person, has made Paraguay’s WRC round a personal mission since his election in 2023.
“I´m already very committed. We told Tommi that next year we’re going to be in the zero car driving ahead of everybody. So I will be next to Tommi and he is going to be driving. But anyway we hope to to see you again,” Peña said to the Finnish icon.
Mäkinen was delighted to host such distinguished guests.
“Yesterday afternoon I could see that you were enjoying while it was a little bit different. During my own career we went to the same places year after year. We knew exactly where we are, and that was always nice. But I have to say, in South America, Argentina was one of the favourite probably, I won there several times. We´ve been in Chile and that is a great event and I´m sure yours will be also,” Mäkinen said with enthusiasm.
