Ari Vatanen

Ari Vatanen
Vatanen in 2009
Born (1952-04-27) 27 April 1952 (age 72)
NationalityFinnish
World Rally Championship record
Active years1974–1985, 1987–1998, 2003
Co-driverFinland Alf Krogell
United Kingdom Geraint Phillips
United Kingdom Peter Bryant
Finland Atso Aho
New Zealand Jim Scott
United Kingdom David Richards
United Kingdom Terry Harryman
Monaco "Tilber"
Sweden Bruno Berglund
Italy Fabrizia Pons
United Kingdom Roger Freeman
United Kingdom Fred Gallagher
Finland Juha Repo
TeamsFord, Opel, Peugeot, Subaru, BMW, Mitsubishi, Citroën
Rallies101
Championships1 (1981)
Rally wins10
Podiums27
Stage wins590
Total points518
First rally1974 1000 Lakes Rally
First win1980 Acropolis Rally
Last win1985 Swedish Rally
Last rally2003 Rally Finland
Member of the European Parliament for Finland
In office
13 June 1999 – 12 June 2004
Member of the European Parliament for Sud-Est (France)
In office
13 June 2004 – 6 June 2009
Personal details
Political party

Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen (pronounced [ˈɑri ˈʋɑtɑnen] ; born 27 April 1952) is a Finnish rally driver turned politician and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1999 to 2009. He won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1981 and the Paris Dakar Rally four times. In addition, he won the 1997 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies.