Tuukka Taponen, World Champion of hard work

Tuukka Taponen's story starts far back, from that first European victory in Angerville in 2019, then with the colors of Kohtala Motorsport. A success that was already the result of the hard work and preparation required to get to contend for that European title practically to the end. 
The great commitment accompanied the new ace of finalndese motorsport in all the important results obtained so far, deserving the passage to the official Tony Kart team and taking the luxury in two seasons in a row to arrive first second and then first in the world championship. 

A new OK Senior world champion and a new breath of fresh air in a karting that year after year discovers new talents and changes its average age in the queen class. With a 2021 as a real protagonist, Taponen had opened wide the gates of Maranello, having the possibility to enter immediately the Ferrari Driver Academy, a possibility that, contrary to the choice however, will only be postponed probably to next season due to the will of the Finnish himself to stay one more year in top level karting and gain as much experience and competitiveness as possible before the big jump. 

Career until now driven under the watchful eyes of Jussi Kohtala, former team manager and now supervisor of the career of what is preparing to be another great "Finnish flyer".

- Tuukka, you are the world champion. How did you feel in Campillos? Did you expect this result?
«No, I didn't expect it because the year was difficult for us, but together with the team we improved a lot and did something really good. The Campillos track was perfect to be able to do it». 

- Next year you could have already joined the Ferrari Academy. Why did you choose to stay in karting?
«I did it because I still want to drive in karting and I'm not 100% ready yet so when I go to Formula, I want to be fully ready and get great results immediately».

- Do you think that next year you will make the step into KZ2 to eventually prepare for single-seaters?
«I can say that maybe there will be some races in KZ but I am not sure. For sure I will go on in the OK category with Tony Kart and of course I will do some F4 tests». 

 

Photo: FIA Karting KSP