When Jukka Honkavuori from Rovaniemi does not compete with Porschella, he drives hard for the German brand to fall.
Jukka Honkavuori realizes his dream as a Porsche driver. Marko Tarrach
When Jukka Honkavuori was last interviewed by Iltalehti, he particularly tasted the upcoming Monaco race weekend.
A couple of weeks after that interview, the coronavirus stopped the whole world.
Honkavuori had to wait another two years before the wish for the Monaco race finally came true.
– I dreamed of racing in Monaco since I was a child. Of course, the original plan was to get to the race as an F1 driver, but this is also valid, Honkavuori smiles.
Many would surely exchange parts with a 30-year-old Finn. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup was used to race on the legendary street track of the Principality.
Porschella at work
The Porsche Supercup is a fast-paced and impressive F1 series. It has a million-strong audience. Porsche AG / Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
The fact that Honkavuori drives his profession at Porsche is the sum of many coincidences.
It all started ten years ago. Honkavuoren Elisa-sister collaborated with Porsche at various customer events. At the same time, the young Jukka Honkavuori was looking for a new direction in his career.
– Once upon a time, Porsche had a situation where many drivers booked for a customer event were ill. That’s when I mentioned that my brother is a race driver who would be a good fit for this job, Elisa Honkavuori says.
At Porsche, the idea was initially sluggish. The German car brand definitely wanted domestic drivers for the incident. The driving skills of a young Finnish driver were also questioned.
A little later, Elisa Honkavuori repeated her proposal to Porsche. This time Jukka Honkavuori was invited to a driving event, and the road is still there today.
In ten years, Porsche has acknowledged that the Finnish style of doing things works, Jukka Honkavuori reveals.
Today, Porsche guarantees bread and offers interesting work patterns.
Various driving training events and marketing photography days take Finns all over the world. It was a memorable experience to get involved in a promotional video running on Time Square in New York.
From Lapland to the world
The race driver-Honkavuorea’s cooperation with Porsche only helps up to a certain point. A place in the Porsche Supercup he had to clear himself.
Honkavuori from Rovaniemi is used to headwinds. Finnish motorsport has a strong emphasis on southern Finland, so “leveling” has been given since the karting years.
– Lapland athletes and cross-country skiers come to mind mainly among Lapland athletes. Quite a lot of effort can be put into building a career in motorsports as a resident of the north, says Honkavuori.
Like so many others, money was often really tight. It’s not the most optimal of all in terms of performance if fear in the back of your head pulsates at the price tag of every crash.
In the Porsche Supercup, Honkavuori can breathe more freely. The partners create a financial safety net and made it possible to race without perpetual fear of ending a career in financial trouble.
Praise to Bottas
This season, Honkavuori will share a depot with F1 stars on many weekends.
– There’s no time to talk to them, but it’s great to see the formula world from deeper than the surface, Honkavuori says.
The Finnish star of the F1 circus is Valtteri Bottas. Alfa Romeuski has been a man familiar to Honkavuori for years.
He has nothing but good to say about Bottas.
– We had a lot to do at a time when we were both part of the AKK Young Drivers Academy. Valtter had a leg firmly between the doors of the F1 series at the time, but he was a really down-to-earth type and really pleasant to all of us, Honkavuori says.
Other, slightly older Finnish F1 stars have remained distant in Honkavuori for the time being. Porsche Supercupin Mika Häkkinen would like to exchange news, Kimi Räikkönen with that has already been done.
– Sometimes we get lost in the same nightclub, Honkavuori grins.
Le Mans dream
The differences in the series are very small. No placement is easy on the track. AOP
The Monaco race weekend was a memorable one not only for Honkavuori, but also guaranteed for one of his most important supporters.
– Dad flew on the spot on Saturday night to see my Sunday race on the spot. For him, this was a really big deal, maybe one of the highlights of life, Honkavuori smiles.
Honkavuori’s goal is to continue in Porsche’s bread for as long as possible. At the moment, the future looks bright.
As a race driver, one goal out there over the others.
– Le Mans’ 24-hour race is one I want to drive someday. This year it was already close. We are working hard to make the dream come true next year, Honkavuori dreams of.