Kauppinen made a huge impression at the Arctic Lapland Rally in late January and early February when the 18-year-old sensation took the overall victory. He left behind both Kalle Rovanperä, who was driving a Rally1 car, and Esapekka Lappi, who competed in a Skoda Rally2 car.
Now competing in the Finnish Championship with a Toyota Rally2 car, Kauppinen will face another new challenge next weekend in Savonlinna. In addition to Lappi and other top names from the SM series, former WRC star and current Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala will also be on the starting line.
Latvala will also be driving a Toyota Rally2 car in Savonlinna, ensuring an equal playing field in terms of machinery. With two former WRC stars as opponents, what is the young talent aiming for?
“The goal is, of course, to go for the win. If I can get one more test day under my belt, I’ll gain even more confidence in the Toyota. I’m sure it’ll go well,” Kauppinen told RallyJournal.com after the Jyväskylä Winter Rally, where he finished second overall in a Rally3-class Ford.
Kauppinen isn’t afraid of challenges. According to him, having high-level competition in the Finnish Championship is only a positive thing.
“It’s great to see such a strong level of competition in these rallies. You really have to push to the limit. It’s a great learning experience to fight hard and compete at a high level,” Kauppinen said.
“You also get to see what the maximum pace is and what it takes to reach it. I’m really excited to go up against top drivers. It constantly shows where I stand.”
However, there are concerns surrounding the Savonlinna SM Rally. The snow conditions are poor, and this week’s mild temperatures have damaged the ice surface on the special stages.
