– It was a kind of childhood dream or not even that. It was the kind of thing that could not be imagined. When it started to materialize, the hands started shaking. I had to stop at the bus stop. I had to blow, Jonne Halttunen remembers.
Halttunen describes the moment in August, five years ago, when he got his first professional contract as a map reader. At that time, the super promise of Halttunen and rally car racing Kalle Rovanperän the collaboration became official.
Back at Rovanperä’s home in Käpälämä, Halttunen’s head had remained cool, but not anymore when driving home.
– In a certain way, it was a dream come true, Halttunen sums up.
Earlier in the same year, he had competed against Rovanperä Teemu Asunmaan with in the Mikkeli SM rally. At that time, Rovanperä’s map reader was Harri Rovanperä’s old map reader Risto Pietiläinen.
Asunmaa and Halttunen led the race for a long time, but 16-year-old Rovanperä, who was driving with an exception permit, sensationally swept the championship rally to victory during the last two special stages.
At that time, Rovanperä, who already made a splash with his driving videos at a young age, came to the attention of the wider public for the first time. The competition was watched by thousands of spectators and a record number of the SM series.
– Through Mikkeli’s competition, we had been in contact. Even before that, in 2016, we had discussed something through social media. But at the end of April 2017, I received a messenger message on Facebook asking if I would like to go on a ride for one of the tests, Haltunen recalls.
The tests were the very next day in Rovaniemi. It was Pirelli’s secret tire tests. We had driven there together for two nights, when it had already been so warm during the day. However, nothing is locked immediately after them.
Halttusen had an offer on its table from the winner of the Future Star competition from Niklas Nordgren. Nothing had been heard from Rovanpera.
Halttunen had asked after a rally with Asunmaa what he should do. The decision had to be made within a week. Asunmaa had asked to send a message to Rovanperä. The rest is history.
– Kalle sent a message not to agree on anything and asked to visit their home. There it was agreed that a few races would be run. Let’s continue together if it goes well, Halttunen describes.
Before joining Rovanperä, Halttunen’s career as a map reader had been at a watershed. He had decided at the end of the previous year that in 2017 he would become a rally professional or it would remain a hobby. He would then continue with the successful hydraulic business he had founded himself.
– It was difficult to be at the rally and as an entrepreneur at the same time. It was funny that turning professional happened in the same year I thought, says Halttunen.
“When I do something, I want to succeed”
Now the duo has won both the WRC2 Pro class championship in 2019 and its brightest crown this year. Rovanperä and Halttus became the first Finnish rally world champions in 20 years.
Toyota’s team manager Jari-Matti Latvala Haltunen has been a good partner for Rovanpera and brings the necessary energy to Rovanpera.
– Kalle himself is calm. Kalle doesn’t need to be calmed down. In some situations, however, you get the feeling that you should give Kalle a little drive. I think Jonne has that kind of drive, Rovanperä states.
The 22-year-old Rovanperä described to Urheilu during the Jyväskylä World Cup rally earlier this year that Halttunen reacted more strongly than he himself to many things. Sometimes Rovanperä has to reassure his map reader. According to the duo, they have complementary personalities. However, the competitive spirit shines through in both of them.
– If we are, say, fifth, and there is no ranking to run from, maybe we are not at our best. The situation may turn into a fluke, Halttunen stated in Jyväskylä.
According to Halttunen, he is very critical of himself and Rovanperänk’s actions. The rally spark came with the family. Uncle drove the rookie series in F-Cup. Jonne started working in maintenance when he was 4–5 years old. The rally was watched a lot.
The sport became a passion. Finally, Halttunen and his friends too Mikko Pajunen decided to start rallying. The decision was made on the boards of the sauna. However, it quickly became clear that Halttunen was not the driver himself.
– When I do something, I want to succeed. Mikko was always faster than me since the moped days. It was very clear that Jonne was driving the note or sitting next to it, says Halttunen.
“Yes, this will definitely take ten years”
According to Halttunen, he developed as a map reader by copying others. He could call the former top map reader and current Toyota sports director For Kaj Lindström. The call also started Esapekka Lapin map reader Janne Fermin in the direction of.
Jari-Matti Latvala also praises how Halttunen will sometimes ask him different things.
– The closer I got to the top, the more I asked. I remember calling Fermi before some new WC rally and asking if there was anything special. The questioner does not lose his way, Halttunen describes.
According to Halttunen, life as a cartographer demands a lot. The work almost never ends. In the middle of the rallies, we prepare for the next race or the one after that. There may be some PR events between seasons.
There will be a lot of travel days. Even in Finland, you don’t always have time to spend time during the season. Halttunen had time to be in Finland only ten hours after securing the championship in New Zealand. Then we had to leave for the tests of the World Rally Championship in Spain.
After the World Rally Championship in Catalonia, we spent a week at home. The suitcases were packed next for the season finale in Japan.
Still, life as a map reader tastes good.
– So far, this is pretty nice. Yes, this will definitely take ten years if Kalle wants to drive for that long. It could even take 15 years. You don’t know that, Halttunen believes.
One Facebook message can lead to even more world championships in the years to come.
World Rally Japan schedule and broadcast information
Thursday 10.11.
Shakedown (2.80 km) at 02.01
EK 1 (2.75 km) at 10:38
Preliminaries and EK 1 highlights from 21:00 to 21:30 TV2
Friday 11.11.
EK 2 (23.29 km) at 00:02
EK 3 (19.38 km) at 01:00
EK 4 (22.44 km) at 01:58
Daycare at 04:38
EK 5 (23.29 km) at 06:31
EK 6 (19.38 km) at 07:29
EK 7 (22.44 km) at 08:27
Evening maintenance at 11:07
Peak moments of the day from 11:00 to 11:30 Areena (Repeat at 21:00-21:30 TV2)
Saturday 12.11.
EK 8 (20.56 km) at 00:07
EK 9 (14.74 km) at 01.00-02.00 TV2
EK 10 (7.08 km) at 02.03
Day care 03.59
EK 11 (20.56 km) at 05:37
EK 12 (14.74 km at 06.30-07.30 TV1
EK 13 (1.40 km) at 08:36
EK 14 (1.40 km) at 08:49
Evening service at 09:59
Peak moments of the day from 11:00 to 11:30 Areena (Repeat at 9:00 p.m. 9:30 p.m TV2)
Sunday 13.11.
EK 15 (7.52 km) at 01.00-02.00 TV2
EK 16 (21.59 km) at 02.12
EK 17 (11.60 km) at 03.10
EK 18 (21.59 km) at 04:48
Highlights of the rally and EK 19 Power Stage (7.52 km) at 07.00-08.30 TV1 (Repeat at 10:00-11:30 TV2)