Pajunen tipped to shine in WRC

Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen has tipped Mikko Pajunen as Finland’s next big talent following his strong start to the Finnish championship - and the rising star will get his chance to shine on the world stage on Rally Sweden this week.

Pajunen, the top two-wheel drive finisher in the Production Car World Rally Championship section of Rally Finland last season, is entered on round two of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship powered by Nokia in a Tommi Makinen Racing Subaru Impreza R4 STI. Kaj Lindstrom, who navigated Kimi Raikkonen in the WRC for the past two seasons, will co-drive.

So far this season, Pajunen, a 27-year-old from Rally Finland base Jyvaskyla, has claimed a brace of third-place finishes on the Riihimaki and Arctic Lapland rallies in his homeland. He holds third position in the overall standings behind leader Esapekka Lappi and Juho Salo in second.

“For all of us Mikko has demonstrated the thing we already knew that he definitely is the next ‘flying’ Finn to enter the international rally arena,” said Makinen. “He has high motivation and is very determined for success. I strongly believe he can challenge [for the Finnish title].”