Seppo Harjanne

Timo Salonen’s partner for a decade won the 1985 world title with him at Peugeot and later added two more with Tommi Mäkinen, making him one of the most decorated co-drivers in the sport.

7
WRC wins 1982–86
12
podiums
39
starts
3
world titles
Grouve Sport documentary

Episode 8 — The Architects: Fiorio, Todt, Gumpert, Turner & the People Behind Group B

The people behind Group B, including the co-drivers.

Timo Salonen and Seppo Harjanne in the 205 Turbo 16 E2 at the 1985 Rallye Sanremo.
Timo Salonen and Seppo Harjanne in the 205 Turbo 16 E2 at the 1985 Rallye Sanremo.Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

With Salonen

Born on 20 February 1948, Harjanne partnered Timo Salonen from 1979 to 1988. In the early Group B years they drove for Nissan, finishing second in New Zealand in 1983 in a 240RS. The move to Peugeot transformed their results: five wins in 1985 (Portugal, the Acropolis, New Zealand, Argentina and the 1000 Lakes) and the world title, plus the 1000 Lakes and RAC Rally in 1986.

Salonen’s co-driver: seven wins and the 1985 world title.

Later

Harjanne later won two more world titles with Tommi Mäkinen and has been deputy clerk of the course of Rally Finland since 2000.

Statistics on this page cover world championship rallies from January 1982 to December 1986, excluding the annulled 1986 Rallye Sanremo, and are counted from the entry lists and results in Jonkka’s World Rally Archive. ‘Starts’ means appearances on an entry list.

Career in the Group B years

World Rally Championship podiums of the co-driver, year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982
0wins
0 podiums
1983
0wins
1 podium
1984
0wins
0 podiums
1985
5wins
8 podiums
1986
2wins
3 podiums

7 WRC wins · 12 podium finishes, 1982–1986

In pictures 1 photos

Timo Salonen's Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 on the 1985 Rallye de Portugal near Sintra, 6 March 1985 (period photo)
Timo Salonen's Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 on the 1985 Rallye de Portugal near Sintra, 6 March 1985 (period photo)Photo: _morgado via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

More from Co-drivers

Juha PiironenToivonen's co-driver at Lancia, then Kankkunen's for the 1986 title.Read more →Fred GallagherFour African wins with Toyota, and Toivonen's co-driver at Opel.Read more →Ilkka KivimäkiAlén's co-driver for twenty years: 19 Group B-era podiums in Lancias.Read more →Terry HarrymanVatanen's co-driver for six wins, and German champion with Mouton.Read more →Björn CederbergBlomqvist's co-driver: eight wins and the 1984 world title.Read more →Christian GeistdörferRöhrl's co-driver for two titles and four Monte Carlo wins.Read more →

Sources

  1. Wikipedia (EN), Seppo Harjanne — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppo_Harjanne
  2. Wikipedia (FI), Seppo Harjanne — https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppo_Harjanne
  3. Jonkka's World Rally Archive (juwra.com), results and entry lists 1982–1986 — https://www.juwra.com/

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

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Thumbnail photos on this page: Unknown authorUnknown author (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain); Rutger van der Maar (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); Rob Croes for Anefo (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); Thesupermat (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); János Tamás (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); edvvc from London, UK (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0).