- Kenya and Finland have a strong sporting connection thanks to the WRC Safari Rally.
- Three drivers from Finland have won the WRC Safari Rally more than once in their careers.
- Juha Kankkunen, who hails from Finland, is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb made an official visit to Kenya on Monday, May 12, 2025 and signed several agreements with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto.
Stubb’s visit was an historic one because it was the maiden one for a Finnish President to the Republic of Kenya.
It also coincided with the 60th commemoration of diplomatic relations between the East African country and Finland.
Although the discussions held by the two Presidents focused mainly on education, economic partnerships and renewable energy, Finland and Kenya also have a unique sporting connection through the WRC Safari Rally.
The iconic event, which started in the early-1950s is a special one for Finnish drivers, popularly known as the “Flying Finns” and Kenyan fans.
From the heartbreaks to the legendary victories registered over the years, the Finnish drivers continue to leave a mark in the WRC Safari Rally.
SportPesa Blog takes a look at three Finnish drivers who have won the WRC Safari Rally Kenya multiple times.
Kalle Rovanperä
The highly-rated Kalle Rovanperä has won the WRC Safari Rally Kenya twice in his promising career.
Rovanperä laid his hands on the coveted trophy for the first time in 2022 when he overcame experienced drivers like Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta.
ALSO READ: Defending WRC Safari Rally Kenya champion Rovanperä tops charts in shakedown
He went on to reclaim the WRC Safari Rally title in 2024 before failing to complete the 2025 edition.
The 24-year-old driver was forced to pull out of the recently held championship due to a technical issue.
“Sadly it’s game over for us as we are forced to retire after the first stage of the morning with a technical issue,” Rovanperä stated then.
Tommi Mäkinen
Similar to Rovanperä, his Finnish compatriot Tommi Mäkinen has also won the WRC Safari Rally two times.
Mäkinen, who was the second driver from Finland to win the championship in history, triumphed in 1996 and 2001.
Juha Kankkunen
Finally, four-time world rally winner Juha Kankkunen has clinched the WRC Safari Rally Kenya title thrice.
Kankkunen, who serves as the Toyota Gazoo Racing deputy team principal at the moment, was crowned the WRC Safari Rally champion for the first time in 1985.
He went on to emerge victorious in 1991 and 1993, becoming one of the most successful WRC Safari Rally drivers in the process.
Besides Kankkunen, Mäkinen and Rovanperä, some of the other drivers from Finland who have won the WRC Safari Rally Kenya titles in their careers include Ari Vatanen and Hannu Mikkola.
ALSO READ: Veteran Juha Kankkunen set to light up 2025 Safari Rally Kenya