Jarmo Lehtinen

Fast facts:

Nationality:
Finnish

Date of birth:
03/01/1969

WRC debut:
Finland 1997

Team:
BP-Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team

Co-drives for:
Mikko Hirvonen

Career summary:

Jarmo Lehtinen has been a rally fan for as long as he can remember, attending rallies as a youngster with his father and his friend Jari Mikkola. Since 1988, he has progressed through the ranks of the sport as he worked with a number of co-drivers, but his first real moves onto the world stage started in 2000 when he met rising star Mikko Hirvonen.

When the Finnish star joined Ford for 2003, Lehtinen got the nod for the co-driver seat. The pair moved to Subaru for 2004 but, despite a solid season, found themselves on the sidelines in a privateer Ford for 2005. Impressive drives in Sardinia, Greece, Finland and Spain, however, netted a return to the works Ford team for 2006 in the first season of a three-year deal.

Their 2006 season was a massive success, with Lehtinen and Hirvonen notching up eight podiums, including the duos first-ever WRC victory in Australia. The following year turned out to be even better, with three outright wins and a promotion to team leader status for the 2008 season.