Report: Neil McDaid
Photo: Red Bull Racing
Toyota has confirmed WRC Champion Co-driver Jonne Halttunen as Project Manager for its expansion into the American Rally Association Championship. Toyota Gazoo Racing will also collaborate with Rallysupport Services, a company ironically led by Lance Smith, the same Lance Smith of Vermont Sports Car who brought Subaru to be the most successful brand in North American Rally.
Halttunen arrives with a résumé that commands instant respect. As co-driver to Kalle Rovanperä, he has been a central figure in Toyota Gazoo Racing’s modern WRC dominance. Together they claimed WRC World Championships in 2022 and 2023, multiple rally victories across gravel, tarmac, and snow, and redefined the modern driver–co-driver partnership with precision, calm authority, and tactical intelligence beyond their years. Halttunen’s reputation inside the service park is that of a strategist as much as a navigator—someone who understands not just pace notes, but the bigger competitive picture.
Less widely discussed, but equally relevant for the ARA project, is Halttunen’s own rally driving background. Before cementing his career on the right-hand seat, he competed as a driver in Finland’s national rally scene, giving him first-hand understanding of car behavior, setup compromises, and the physical demands of stage competition—an invaluable asset when translating WRC-level thinking to American events with their unique roads, formats, and logistics.
With WRC, getting serious about getting USA on their calendar, the obvious question is: could this project lead to something even bigger for Jonne? While a one-off ARA appearance by Halttunen alongside Rovanperä might seem far-fetched, Rovanperä has said "rallying will always be close to his heart," even though he hasn't indicated a 2026 stage rally commitment. Given this season's focus on establishing Toyota's presence in the USA, such an entry would generate significant exposure for both Toyota and ARA. Of course, this is all speculation, but regardless, Halttunen's move alone demonstrates that American stage rally is no longer on the fringes; it's firmly back on the world map.
