Tuukka Taponen, from Tony Kart Racing Team to Ferrari Driver Academy
The young Finnish driver, who trained competitively in the Tony Kart Racing Team, becoming OK world champion in 2021 with their colours, now joins the prestigious Maranello driver academy
The Ferrari Driver Academy bets once again on an official driver of the Tony Kart Racing Team: the Finnish Tuukka Taponen joins the Prancing Horse's driver training programme, after having competed in three competitive seasons defending our colours in the major international kart competitions.
Tuukka arrives in the Tony Kart Racing Team in 2020, immediately showing off his talent in the OKJ category, achieving a third place in the FIA Karting European Championship as well as the title of Vice World Champion at Portimão (Portugal). In 2021, on his absolute debut in OK category, he became World Champion at Campillos (Spain) on a weekend featured by changing weather conditions, thus demonstrating his speed skills on both dry and wet tracks. This year, he also competed in the shifter class, KZ, fighting against the best experienced drivers of the world karting.
These important results, together with the experience gained within the Tony Kart Racing Team, have enhanced and refined Taponen's talent, which has not gone unnoticed in the eyes of the Ferrari Driver Academy management.
Taponen is however only the latest, in order of time, fruit of the close partnership between Tony Kart Racing Team and Ferrari Driver Academy, active since 2016. In fact, there are several leaders of the Tony Kart Racing Team who have joined the “Maranello Driver Academy". Among them, how could we not mention Mick Schumacher, F1 Haas Team's driver, and Dino Beganovic, the new Formula Regional European Championship champion.
Therefore, Taponen represents the confirmation of the successful cooperation between Tony Kart Racing Team and Ferrari Driver Academy in the activity of scouting and growth of the best talents coming from the international karting scene. A collaboration that, moreover, includes several and constant joint activities between the two businesses.
The whole Tony Kart Racing Team staff wishes Tuukka a future full of successes and congratulates on his new adventure in the FDA.