After a day of exhaustive tests in Finland, Leevi Lassila has been named as the 2024 Flying Finn Future Rally Star.
The 20-year-old will drive a Ford Fiesta Rally3 at August’s Secto Rally Finland in what is one of world rallying’s most sought-after and prestigious awards.
Run by AKK Sports Ltd, the organiser of Finland’s round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the Flying Finn Future Rally Star gives one of the brightest young stars from the Finnish Rally Championship an opportunity to shine on the world stage.
Recognised for their performances on rounds of this year’s Finnish Rally Championship, Lassila’s fellow competitors Toni Herranen, Jesse Kallio, Niko Kalmi and Ossi Pohjanharju were invited to the Institute of High Performance KIHU in Jyväskylä for the selection day on Tuesday, June 25.
Through the day, the five candidates were put through a series of controlled physical tests to gain a better understanding of fitness levels. The afternoon was focused on each the driver’s psychological approach, with media skills put to the test in both Finnish and English language.
A selection panel – including representatives from AKK Sports Ltd, the Finnish Olympic Committee and the Institute of High Performance KIHU – debated the strengths of each driver before finalising the winner of the 2024 Flying Finn Future Rally Star.
Lassila, a regular Finnish Rally Championship class winner in a Ford Fiesta Rally4 this season, has been awarded a prize which includes the use of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally3 and a comprehensive support package incorporating a pre-event test, Pirelli tires, race fuel, entry fees, training, coaching as well as PR and media support throughout Secto Rally Finland.
Lassila joins an exclusive list of Flying Finn Future Rally Stars which includes factory World Rally Championship drivers Teemu Suninen, Emil Lindholm and Sami Pajari. Pajari, the last driver to win the competition prior to the global pandemic, makes his debut at the sport’s highest level when he joins the Toyota GAZOO Racing team to drive a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 at Secto Rally Finland.
Leevi Lassila, 2024 Flying Finn Future Rally Star, said:
“This is a huge chance for me to go a step further in my rally career. I am very grateful to AKK Sports and to everybody for organising today and the Flying Finn Future Rally Starprogram.
“Now I have to turn the attention to Secto Rally Finland and my preparations. I will rent a Rally3 car to do one rally in Tampere to take some practice and then I will make the test before the rally. It’s important to get as much experience as possible, I didn’t use four-wheel drive before.
“Like many drivers, my aim is to become world champion one day. Winning today (Tuesday) is a step in that direction, but I understand my big goal is still a long way away. I will go step-by-step. I’m only 20, so I have a lot of time. But to follow on from the names like Suninenand Pajari feels good – they are on the top and now I have the chance to follow!”
AKK Sports Ltd. Chief Operating Officer Markus Häkkinen said:
“This year has really been the re-birth of Flying Finn Future Rally Star after the COVID-19 pandemic. And the focus again is to give one driver the opportunity to test themself in world-level rallying on our own, home turf and on roads they know. Driving on home roads helps to take away some of the pressure, but competing in the WRC also brings some pressure.
“So far with this project, we have a good track record – we’re hoping that continues with Leevi. After the pandemic, we’re looking forward to this program taking flight again.
“In the jury’s opinion Leevi performed in a solid manner throughout the whole process, starting with the five Finnish Rally Championship rounds he has done this year and performed very well. Despite not having so much four-wheel drive experience, he convinced us. It wasn’t an easy choice, but the difference from Leevi was enough for the jury to make a clear decision.
“Looking forward to Secto Rally Finland, we want to give him a taste of the WRC. Yes, we have had the Flying Finn Future Rally Star winning their class [at Secto Rally Finland] before, but this is not the main goal. We give him the opportunity to do what he can.
“From the interviews, we could tell he is focused and well organised and a real sportsman – he competed at a high level in volleyball. He has a clear plan for his future; the way he has thought through his abilities as a driver and set his goals accordingly is very professional.”
Finnish Olympic High Performance Manager Tommi Pärmäkoski said:
“The Flying Finn Future Rally Star program brings so many benefits for the whole of Finnish rallying. It’s a great way for the AKK to help to catch a potential star of the future and push them in the right direction.
“There were a lot of strong candidates in this process, but Leevi demonstrated really what was needed. He’s had a good season so far, but as well as this we could see his physical condition was very strong and from the psychological perspective as well. He has his feet on the ground, it was nice to see how humble he was – but at the same time I could definitely see the sparkle as well as the fire in his eyes when he talks to the future.
“For me, this guy is the full package.”
Lassila began his career in rallying at the top of the 2019 season, just days before his 15thbirthday. Driving a Citroën C2 VTS, he finished sixth in class on his Lipposen OP Talvirallisprint debut. After a year of learning the sport, Lassila was winning his class in 2020 with a switch to a Ford Fiesta early in 2021 bringing more category success at home.
Last year’s Royal Rally of Scandinavia provided a European Rally Championship debut and a maiden appearance outside of Finland, only for the engine aboard his Fiesta Rally4 to fail with an impressive top-six in a crowded RC4 class result in sight. Lassila has focused his efforts on this year’s Finnish Rally Championship, where he sits at the forefront of the battle for his category.
Flying Finn Future Rally Star is partnered by M-Sport, Pirelli, Brawo!, Corego and KIHU.
Contact:
Secto Rally Finland Press Officer
Terhi Heloaho,
terhi.heloaho@autourheilu.fi
+358 40 6822662