Joni-Pekka Rajala

Joni-Pekka Rajala
Nationality	Finnish
Born	(1984-08-18) 18 August 1984 Finland
European Rallycross Championship career
Debut season	2015
Current team	Per Eklund Motorsport
Car no.	60
Starts	6
Wins	0

Joni-Pekka "Jonttu" Rajala (born 18 August 1984) is a Finnish racing driver currently participating in the FIA European Rallycross Championship. He currently races a Volkswagen Beetle for Per Eklund Motorsport.

Biography

Rajala battles Pontus Tidemand in the 2014 World RX of Finland

Rajala is a six-time champion of the Finnish Rallycross Championship. He has won 4 titles in the SRC – SuperNational (2WD) category in a row (2011 through 2014) with a Ford Escort Mk7, along with back-to-back titles in the Supercars category (2013 and 2014) behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI. This was also a Finnish record, as it was the first time a driver had won both categories two years in a row.

Rajala's big break came at the 2014 World RX of Finland, where he was able to showcase his talent in a privateer-entered Škoda Fabia. He progressed to the final, but was knocked out in the Semi-Final however was promoted to the Final as Petter Solberg was unable to make the grid and neither could first understudy Timmy Hansen. He subsequently retired with engine failure, but had done enough to maintain his drive for the following round in Sweden. Amongst a larger grid with more competitive drivers he finished a lowly 22nd and didn't race again that season – however he had attracted the attention of Per Eklund, who offered him a full-time 2015 FIA European Rallycross Championship drive in a Saab 9-3. Rajala exceeded all expectations that season, finishing 4th in the championship – with the highlight being 2nd in Norway – despite driving an inferior car.

Rajala returned to EuroRX with Per Eklund Motorsport in 2016, with a new VW Beetle which promised to be more competitive than the Saab.

Results

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results

Supercar

Year	Entrant	Car	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	WRX	Points
2014	Hedströms Motorsport	Škoda Fabia	POR	GBR	NOR	FIN 6	SWE 22	BEL	CAN	FRA	GER	ITA	TUR	ARG		31st	13

* Season in progress.

Complete FIA European Rallycross Championship results

Supercar

Year	Entrant	Car	1	2	3	4	5	ERX	Points
2015	Per Eklund Motorsport	Saab 9-3	BEL 7	GER 5	NOR 2	BAR 3	ITA 8	4th	86
2016	Per Eklund Motorsport	Volkswagen Beetle	BEL 6	NOR	SWE	BAR	LAT	4th*	21*

* Season in progress.