Birth: 28 May 1959 / Joupajoki, Finland Lives: Espoo, Finland In 1988, Risto Mannisenmaki agreed to drive a farmer's son who had been rallying for little more than one year. The farmer's son, undecided whether to treat rallying as a hobby or a career, was Tommi Makinen. 10 years later, there was a natural logic to the renewed partnership between the two Finns, but no doubt either that Mannisenmaki has earned his chance to replace his renowned predecessor, Seppo Harjanne. When he first navigated Makinen on the 1000 Lakes Rally, Mannisenmaki had been competing as an amateur for seven years and wasn't sure if he could make his living from the sport. Soon afterwards, he decided to make it his job and since then he has co-driven some of Finland's most able drivers, including Sebastian Lindholm and Ari Mokkonen. He proved his mettle as a professional by joining forces with Tapio Laukkanen, who showed a blistering turn of speed in Volkswagen Golfs. Together, the pair won the Finnish F2 Rally Championship and took on a hectic programme, contesting 14 events in 1997, divided between the Finnish and British Championships. It was invaluable experience, both of working for a factory team and of competing abroad on a regular basis. Mannisenmaki immediately settled in next to Makinen and the greatest tribute to him is that his driver continued winning as though there had been no change of co-driver. He has shared in some of Makinen's greatest triumphs, guiding him to the World Rally Championship in 1998 and 1999. Career highlights 1999 . FIA World Rally Champion 1st overall Rally Monte Carlo 1st overall International Swedish Rally 5th overall Rally Portugal 3rd overall Rallye Catalunya 6th overall Tour de Corse 4th overall Rally Argentina 3rd overall Acropolis Rally 1st overall Rally New Zealand 1st overall Rally Sanremo 3rd overall Rally Australia 1998 FIA World Rally Champion 1st overall Swedish Rally 3rd overall Rally Catalunya 1st overall Rally Argentina 3rd overall Rally New Zealand 1st overall Rally Finland 1st overall Rally Sanremo 1st overall Rally Australia 1997 Finish F2 Championship British F2 Championship