The famous Vatanen name returns to the British Rally Championship in 2016, with Max Vatanen having been announced to enter the series 40 years since his father Ari’s championship-winning season.
Max will drive a DMACK Ford Fiesta R5 in the 2016 British Rally Championship, and comes to the series with the hope of taking the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy, in which he is currently third.
Father Ari Vatanen won his championship in a Ford Escort, before winning the world championship five years later in 1981.
“I can honestly say that some of the best memories of my career come from Great Britain,” commented Ari. “The whole sport has changed beyond recognition since my day, but I’m sure that the character of the stages is not much different.
“The British Rally Championship is one of the best championships in the world: I know it’s going to be tough but at the same time an incredible year for Max.”
New challenges will be present for Max next year, as he steps up to a more powerful four-wheel drive car, along with some unfamiliar rallies.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have concluded this agreement to compete in the British Rally Championship with DMACK next year,” said the 24-year-old Finn. “Not only am I looking forward to a fantastic car and an awesome championship with some legendary events, but it’s also going to be a very significant campaign for me personally.
“I’m obviously lucky enough to have a very important family history on the British Rally Championship, so I will be doing my absolute best to ensure that the Vatanen name continues to make the series proud. I know that comes with a certain pressure, but that is part of the job.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to test the R5 Fiesta briefly on a few occasions, but of course this will be a big step up for me and one that I will certainly make the most of,” said Max. “The rallies are all new to me as well; many of them are real classics. They say that if you can drive quickly in Britain, you can drive quickly anywhere, so I cannot wait to find this out for myself. Many thanks to DMACK and all the people who have believed in me so far.”
Up next for Max is Rallye Deutschland on August 20-23, his first asphalt event of the year.
