While Lauri Halonen is now concentrating on rallying in his national championship, the Finnish driver has not forgotten his time in RallyX.
In total, he spent three seasons in the Junior CrossCar category. After finishing sixth overall in his first campaign at this level in 2021, Lauri took two consecutive podium finishes in RallyX, with two third places in 2022 and 2023.
Last May, the Kouvola-born driver couldn’t resist paying a visit to his former colleagues during the Finnish stage of the RallyX championship.
“It is always good to be back in the RallyX paddock. It gives me a chance to catch up with some old friends,” smiles Lauri Halonen, who has two wins and a total of 13 career podiums to his credit.
At just 14 years of age, he is trying to make his way in the world of rallying at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta ST. Fifth in his category in the Finnish championship, Lauri has not forgotten how his experience in RallyX has prepared him perfectly for this new challenge.
“In terms of car control, the Junior CrossCar category has helped me a lot to prepare for rallying. I’m convinced that CrossCar is the best category for young drivers to start in motorsport. Whatever you want to do afterwards, whether it’s rallying or moving up to rallycross, it’s the best school you can find to learn as much as possible and prove yourself. And although you always need money to compete in motorsport, it remains the most accessible category in terms of budget.”
“That is why I really enjoyed my seasons in the RallyX championship. The battles on track were tough, but our rivals in the paddock quickly became friends. We learn from each other. If a driver is struggling, it’s not uncommon for him to find help from his rivals, who will try to give him some ideas to work on and evaluate what he could do differently.”
One thing is certain: Lauri Halonen continues to pay close attention to the development of the Junior CrossCar Championship.
“The championship has changed a lot since last year, with Mikael Uitto, Joonatan Ylilammi and myself no longer competing in the junior category, but it’s good to see that the podium is no longer dominated by Finns only this year,” smiles Lauri.
“It gives the Swedish and Norwegian drivers a chance to show themselves, but I can already see the new generation of Finns coming into their own, so it looks very promising for the future”.
