Jani Paasonen’s career in rallying began in 1995 and it was just one year before the young Finn made his mark in his home country. Second overall, driving an Opel Ascona, in the 1996 Finnish Junior Rally Championship was a fine result for the rookie driver, who then went on to win the 1997 Finnish Ice-racing Championship in a Group N Mitsubishi Lancer. His first taste of rallying at World Championship level came when he competed in his home event, Rally Finland, the same year, finishing fifth in Group N, again in a Lancer Evolution.

The 27-year-old Finn is no stranger to Mitsubishi, the lion’s share of his career spent in the Japanese manufacturer’s dominant Group N machinery. In 1999 he finished third in the category on the International Swedish Rally and third overall in the Finnish Rally Championship driving a Carisma GT.

In 2000, he continued his Group N campaign and in his four outings in World Rally Championship events, he notched up two category wins (Sweden and Finland) and fifth on the asphalt in Spain. His successes in Finland were however unmatched, and Jani claimed the Group N Finnish Rally Championship title.

In 2001, Jani made the move to world rally car machinery, however both outings in a privately run Ford Focus at World Championship level resulted in retirement. He nevertheless won the South Swedish Rally and International Mantta Rally, the traditional warm-up event to Rally Finland.

This season, Jani has had two outings in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC with Marlboro Mitsubishi Ralliart, a fine drive in Sweden seeing him run as high as fourth overall before hitting problems. In Cyprus, the Finn was forced into retirement, but Jani is hoping that the combination of his local knowledge and the new Lancer Evolution WRC2 will see him claim points for Mitsubishi in Finland.