Risto Mannisenmäki
Encyclopedia
Risto Mannisenmäki is a former rally
co-driver
and two-times world champion
with driver Tommi Mäkinen
.
Mannisenmäki begun his career in 1982
and was co-driving for various drivers such as Tommi Mäkinen
, Sebastian Lindholm
and Ari Mökkönen in local rallies. In 1996 and 1997, Risto was the permanent co-driver of Tapio Laukkanen
and participated in both Finnish and British local rally series, as well as a few WRC
rallies.
For the 1998 season, Mannisenmäki moved on to co-drive with Tommi Mäkinen, after the retirement of Seppo Harjanne
. Together, they won the World Rally Championship in 1998 and 1999, and were 5th in the 2000 championships.
During the Rally of Corsica in the 2001 WRC season, both were involved in a major accident
where the Lancer driven by Mäkinen and Mannisenmäki ricocheted off of the outside wall into steep cliff-face, turning the car over and narrowly avoiding plunging down the ravine on the opposite side of the road. In the accident, the passenger-side of the Lancer was heavily damaged, breaking Mannisenmäki's back, forcing an end to his co-driving career.
However, after a two year hiatus, Mannisenmäki returned to participate in a WRC stage, the last in his career, at the Wales GB
in the 2003 WRC season, as the co-driver for Juuso Pykälistö
. Both finished in 9th position in this rally.
Mannisenmäki won the Vuoden Moottoriurheilija title (engl. Motorsport athlete of the year) in 1999 with Tommi Mäkinen and Mika Häkkinen
. Mannisenmäki has been active in rally coaching programs before, and retiring from co-driving, he was chosen in 2004 as AKK-Motorsport's rally coach.
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
co-driver
Co-driver
Co-driver is the term given to the navigator of rally car in the sport of rally racing, who sits in the front passenger seat. The co-driver's job is to navigate, by reading off a set of pacenotes to the driver, often over a radio headset, due to the high level of noise in the car...
and two-times world champion
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
with driver Tommi Mäkinen
Tommi Mäkinen
"Turbo" Tommi Antero Mäkinen , tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb , and fifth in wins .He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi...
.
Mannisenmäki begun his career in 1982
1982 World Rally Championship season
The 1982 World Rally Championship season was the tenth season of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile World Rally Championship . The season consisted of 12 rallies. By this time, the schedule format had become generally stable, with only one or two changes to venues year to year...
and was co-driving for various drivers such as Tommi Mäkinen
Tommi Mäkinen
"Turbo" Tommi Antero Mäkinen , tied with Juha Kankkunen and behind Sébastien Loeb , and fifth in wins .He is a four-time World Rally Champion, a series he first won, and then successfully defended, continuously throughout 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, on all occasions driving the Ralliart Mitsubishi...
, Sebastian Lindholm
Sebastian Lindholm
Sebastian "Basti" Lindholm is a rally driver from Finland. He is a cousin of Marcus Grönholm. Lindholm has won the Finnish Rally Championship eight times; 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006....
and Ari Mökkönen in local rallies. In 1996 and 1997, Risto was the permanent co-driver of Tapio Laukkanen
Tapio Laukkanen
Tapio Laukkanen is a Finnish rally driver.In 1996 he won the Finnish Rally Championship in a Volkswagen Golf GTi and in 1999 he won the British Rally Championship with a Renault Mégane Maxi twinned with fellow Finn, Kaj Lindström.Other co-drivers include Jorma Kaikkonen, Risto Mannisenmäki, Tapio...
and participated in both Finnish and British local rally series, as well as a few WRC
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
rallies.
For the 1998 season, Mannisenmäki moved on to co-drive with Tommi Mäkinen, after the retirement of Seppo Harjanne
Seppo Harjanne
Seppo Harjanne is a Finnish former rally co-driver. He is best known for co-driving for Timo Salonen from 1979 to 1988 and for Tommi Mäkinen from 1990 to 1997. With Salonen, Harjanne took ten World Rally Championship victories for the factory teams of Datsun, Peugeot and Mazda, and the 1985...
. Together, they won the World Rally Championship in 1998 and 1999, and were 5th in the 2000 championships.
During the Rally of Corsica in the 2001 WRC season, both were involved in a major accident
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
where the Lancer driven by Mäkinen and Mannisenmäki ricocheted off of the outside wall into steep cliff-face, turning the car over and narrowly avoiding plunging down the ravine on the opposite side of the road. In the accident, the passenger-side of the Lancer was heavily damaged, breaking Mannisenmäki's back, forcing an end to his co-driving career.
However, after a two year hiatus, Mannisenmäki returned to participate in a WRC stage, the last in his career, at the Wales GB
Rally GB
Wales Rally GB is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. It is a round of the FIA World Rally Championship and was formerly a round of the MSA British Rally Championship and is based in and around the city of Cardiff in Wales...
in the 2003 WRC season, as the co-driver for Juuso Pykälistö
Juuso Pykälistö
Juuso Pykälistö is a Finnish rally driver. He has driven in the World Rally Championship with Citroën and Peugeot. Pykälistö has won the Arctic Rally twice.-External links:*...
. Both finished in 9th position in this rally.
Mannisenmäki won the Vuoden Moottoriurheilija title (engl. Motorsport athlete of the year) in 1999 with Tommi Mäkinen and Mika Häkkinen
Mika Häkkinen
Mika Pauli Häkkinen is a Finnish racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion...
. Mannisenmäki has been active in rally coaching programs before, and retiring from co-driving, he was chosen in 2004 as AKK-Motorsport's rally coach.