Ari Vatanen

Quick Facts

Full Name	Ari Vatanen
Occupation	Rally Driver
Date Of Birth	Apr 27, 1952(1952-04-27)
Age	72
Birthplace	Tuupovaara
Country	Finland
Birth City	North Karelia
Horoscope	Aries

Ari Vatanen Biography

Ari Vatanen is one of the most popular and richest Rally Driver who was born on April 27, 1952 in Tuupovaara, North Karelia, Finland. Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen ( pronunciation (help *info ) ) (born 27 April 1952) is a Finnish rally driver who became a politician, and was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 until 2009. Vatanen has won his World Rally Championship drivers’ title in 1981 as well as his title was awarded at the Paris Dakar Rally four times. Since 2013, Vatanen has been president of the Estonian Autosport Union.

When 1984 began, Vatanen was signed up to race his Peugeot 205 T16 for Peugeot’s factory team. From 1984’s 1000 Lakes Rally to 1985 Swedish Rally, Vatanen won five world rallies in succession. The rumor was that he would take home the title of world champion in 1985 however, he was in the lead over teammate Timo Salonen following a string of crashes and mechanical issues. He was then involved in a major accident during the Rally Argentina, when his car slammed into the ground at over 120 miles per hour. The seat of his car broke and he was tossed around inside the vehicle, suffering severely injured legs and torso as well as dangerous internal bleeding. He was hospitalized for 18 months, initially from the physical injuries, and later from depression. He made an entire recovery, and his returned into motorsport in 1987 was followed by his success to be the winner of the Paris-Dakar Rally four times; with Peugeot in 1987 in 1989, 1989, and 1990, as well as with Citroen during 1991. He was the subject of controversy when his vehicle was stolen while he was taking part in the same rally in 1988.

In 1993 Vatanen settled in southern France, where he bought a farm and a winery.

The 1995 and 1996 seasons were quiet for Vatanen, whose career as a top-line driver was slowly drawing to a close. At the time there was a surplus of drivers and those late in their careers, such as Vatanen, tended to lose out in favour of younger talents. Nevertheless, he continued to contest a few events then and in subsequent years, his best result being a podium finish at the 1998 Safari Rally. He then briefly returned to a works Subaru for the season-ending Rally of Great Britain, marking his 100th World Rally Championship event.

Vatanen and Richards separated during the 1982 season and for the following years Vatanen was driven by Terry Harryman. He didn’t defend his title at the world championship in 1982, instead competing for the British Championship in a Ford Escort and then transferring to the Opel team for the 1983 season. In 1983, the Opel Ascona, and the Opel Manta were two-wheel drive and weren’t competitive enough however Vatanen was able to take the title in at the Safari Rally.

Ari Vatanen Net Worth

Ari Vatanen is one of the richest Rally Driver from Finland. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Ari Vatanen 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

His first year of rallying was in 1970. it was his first time competing at the World Rally Championship at the 1974 1000 Lakes Rally. In the same year, he took home the Nortti Rally in an Opel Ascona beating Hannu Mikkola that brought him more public attention. The first rally he participated in was in 1975 at the Rothmans 747 Rally in Jamaica with a Datsun 120Y. He was 12th in the race alongside his co-driver Gerry Phillips. In the middle of the season, he was offered his first professional experience in the Ford Escort RS1800, on the RAC Rally. He was forced to abandon the race on the second day however, by the time he was back, the event he was awed by Ford team boss Stuart Turner sufficiently for him to be given a place on the team to compete in the British Rally Championship the following year. He was able to win the title, which that he repeated in 1980. driven by David Richards, who went to become the director of Prodrive The Banbury motorsports team based in Banbury as well as one of the more prominent names in British (and globally) motorsport. Between 1977 and the year 1980, he participated in selected World Championship events, initially with Ford’s official Ford team, and later after the team’s withdrawal from the sport at the close of 1979 and with the private partially- owned Rothmans Rally Team. He won his first race during the 1981 Acropolis Rally and became the World Rally Champion in 1981. He is the sole privately- owned driver (i.e. not part of an organization that is officially a factory) to achieve this feat.

Vatanen was born and raised in the rural area of Tuupovaara located in Eastern Finland. The couple is Rita with four kids: Kim (b. 1972), Ria (b. 1980), Tua (b. 1982) and Max (b. 1990). They also have residences and homes in Finland as well as France. Kim is also the manager of the current WRC driver Sebastien Ogier. In 2016, Max took his father’s steps by participating in the British Rally Championship driving an M-Sport modified Ford Fiesta R5.

With Peugeot, Vatanen also won the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, after Peugeot stopped participating in the World Rally Championship in 1986, due to the demise of Group B rallying. Peugeot used the lessons learnt from its 205 T16 to create the 405 T16. With at least 600 bhp (447 kW), large aerofoils, four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, Vatanen took the car up the hill in record time, his efforts being captured in the award-winning short film Climb Dance.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Ari Vatanen height Not available right now. Ari weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Ari Vatanen Dating?

According to our records, Ari Vatanen married to Rita Helen Holmborg. As of December 1, 2023, Ari Vatanen’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Ari Vatanen. You may help us to build the dating records for Ari Vatanen!

In 2004 he was re-elected, this time from the list of the conservative French Union for a Popular Movement. In 2009 European Parliament elections Vatanen was again a National Coalition candidate in Finland, but he did not get elected this time.

Facts & Trivia

Ari Ranked on the list of most popular Rally Driver. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in Finland. Ari Vatanen celebrates birthday on April 27 of every year.

In July 2009 Vatanen declared his interest in being a candidate to stand against Max Mosley in the FIA presidential elections in October, should current president Mosley decide to restand for another term. He later confirmed that he would run for the presidency. On 23 October 2009, Vatanen failed in his bid to be elected as president of the FIA, which was won by his former team boss at Peugeot, subsequently Scuderia Ferrari manager Jean Todt.

What is Ari Vatanen doing now?

Since 2013 Vatanen has been the President of the Estonian Autosport Union.

What age is Ari Vatanen?

70 years (April 27, 1952)