Jonne Halttunen
Finland
·
WRC
Key Facts
Nationality
FIN
Date of birth
13.12.1985
Birthplace
Finland
Driver
First WRC rally
2011, Rally Finland
First WRC stage win
2020, Rally Sweden SS11
WRC stage wins
217
First WRC podium
2020, Rally Sweden
WRC podiums
25
First WRC win
2021, Rally Estonia
WRC wins
15
First WRC Wolf Power Stage win
2020, Rally Sweden
WRC Wolf Power Stage wins
18
WRC titles
2(2022-23)
WRC support category titles
2019 WRC2 Pro
About Jonne Halttunen
Jonne Halttunen’s rise to WRC stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. After joining forces with Kalle Rovanperä in 2017, the Finnish duo became a dominant force in world rallying, securing back-to-back FIA World Rally Championship titles in 2022 and 2023.
Halttunen’s rallying journey began in 2009 when he made his debut as a co-driver at a national event in Finland. Initially competing as a hobby with various local drivers, his talent soon became evident. He made his first WRC appearance at Neste Rally Finland in 2011 and gradually expanded his programme to include events across Europe from 2014 onwards. A breakthrough came in 2015 when he clinched the Finnish Championship alongside Teemu Asunmaa.
In 2017, Halttunen linked up with Rovanperä for the first time, contesting WRC2 at Rally GB and Rally Australia in a Ford Fiesta R5. The following season, they embarked on a full WRC2 campaign with Škoda Motorsport, winning in Great Britain and Spain to finish third in the championship. A year later, they stepped up again, storming to the WRC2 Pro title in the Fabia R5.
Their big break came in 2020 when Toyota Gazoo Racing signed them to drive a Yaris World Rally Car. The pair made an immediate impact, securing a podium on just their second event in Sweden and ending their rookie season in fifth overall. The following year, they claimed their first WRC victories in Estonia and Greece, finishing fourth in the championship and solidifying their reputation as future champions.
That prophecy became reality in 2022. Rovanperä and Halttunen dominated, winning six out of 13 rounds to secure the world title — making Rovanperä the youngest WRC champion in history. They proved their success was no one-off by defending their crown in 2023, delivering another season of relentless consistency and speed.
A change of pace followed in 2024, as the duo opted for a part-time campaign while Rovanperä explored other motorsport disciplines, including circuit racing and drifting. Despite their reduced schedule, they remained a force to be reckoned with, claiming four victories in Kenya, Poland, Latvia, and Chile. However, a home win continued to elude them, with their Secto Rally Finland challenge ending in dramatic fashion after rolling their GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid on the final corner of the penultimate stage.
Returning to a full-time programme in 2025, Halttunen and Rovanperä will be determined to reclaim their WRC crown from Hyundai rival Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe — while also looking to finally tick off that elusive victory on home soil.