Timo Jouhki, who is behind Teemu Suninen, also believes that Suninen will develop Hyundai’s Rally2 car next year. There is also a seat at the wheel of a Rally1 car at the negotiating table.
Kalle Rovanperän an experienced rally manager who is impressive in the background Timo Jouhki says that this year the Finnish star has the opportunity to significantly improve his earnings through success bonuses.
– Generally, the contracts of rally drivers have a basic salary, which in most cases makes up the main part of the remuneration. Then there are race-specific bonuses for podium places. In addition, there are championship bonuses in the contracts, you get a little more for the individual championship than for the team championship.
All in all, the bonuses can in many cases be higher than the basic reward.
For Rovanpera, this means a nice day of reckoning if the Jyväskylä native, who recently moved to Monaco, wins both the individual and team world championships.
– If the championship comes, the next year’s basic salary will also increase considerably.
– It is clear that there is a clause in Kalle’s contract about a salary increase. The contract was originally made for 2+2 years, and such a contract cannot be made (for a new driver) on the basis of a terrible fee. Usually, the reward is modest at first and increases with success, the experienced rally manager says about Rovanperä’s contract.
Teemu Suninen will be Hyundai’s man next year as well
Also Teemu Suninen the impressive Jouhki in the background is confident that Suninen has a foot in the door for Hyundai.
– Teemu’s situation is that he will run seven races this year. Belgium wasn’t even in the Competition Calendar when the contract was made, so Teemu is not here. He will next drive in Greece in the Akropolis Rally, in Spain in the Catalunya Rally and in the Japan World Cup Rally.
Hyundai’s “first team”, i.e. the WRC team, has seen varying performances, especially from the Swede From Oliver Solberg, whose two-year contract with the Korean manufacturer is on hold at the end of this season. Suninen may have a chance to get behind the wheel of a Rally1 car next year as well.
– It’s obvious that you always have to try. We hope that we can get something done in that sector as well. In any case, it is pretty certain that Teemu will develop Hyundai’s Rally2 car next year and drive it in races.