Professional co-driver and welder, Arto Kapanen began his rallying career with Jarmo Kytölehtö in 1991. The pair competed together until the end of 2000, when Arto then joined Paasonen in his first year competing in a world rally car.

In 2001, both outings in a privately run Ford Focus at World Championship level resulted in retirement, however Arto and Jani won the South Swedish Rally and International Mänttä Rally, the traditional warm-up event to Rally Finland.

This season, the Finns have had two outings in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC with Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart, a fine drive in Sweden seeing them run as high as fourth overall before hitting problems. In Cyprus, the Finns were forced into retirement, but the are hoping that the combination of their local knowledge and the new Lancer Evolution WRC2 will see them claim points for Mitsubishi in Finland.