Juha Kankkunen Pays Tribute to Timo Hantunen

Juha Kankkunen has paid an emotional tribute to legendary co-driver Timo Hantunen, who passed away at the age of 76 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer just one week before his death.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing deputy team principal said he was deeply shocked by the news, describing Hantunen as someone who remained remarkably active and physically fit long after retiring from top-level rallying.

"These are always incredibly sad pieces of news. It came as a complete surprise to me as well. Knowing Timo, it was hard to believe. I don't think there was another retired co-driver in Finland who was in better shape. He would probably still have jumped into a rally car if the opportunity had come along," said Kankkunen.

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The pair first worked together at the 1979 Rally Finland, where Hantunen co-drove Kankkunen on his event debut. They later competed together in numerous national rallies before Kankkunen joined Toyota's factory programme in the early 1980s.

Kankkunen believes Hantunen's contribution extended far beyond his role in the cockpit. He described him as a mentor who helped develop generations of Finnish rally drivers, knowing exactly when to calm a driver and when to encourage them to push harder.

The two had planned to reunite with the Ford Escort from their first Rally Finland together, but the meeting never happened because Hantunen had been admitted to hospital. For Kankkunen, Hantunen's passing represents the loss of not only a former co-driver but also one of the most influential figures in Finnish rallying.