Bottas' former sponsor supports Hakkinen's daughter

Bottas' former sponsor supports Hakkinen's daughter

      We've talked about Antti Aarnio-Wihuri many times in the context of his long-standing business relationship with Valtteri Bottas, which has frayed in recent years - and through no fault of the Finnish billionaire. But the 84-year-old motorsport philanthropist has helped and is not only helping him - for example, his protégés include the talented and fast Finnish driver Tuukka Taponen, who will make his Formula 3 debut this season. But his company Wihuri also supports 14-year-old Ella Hakkinen, and she is already making her first successes in competitive karting. "Every year in September-October we receive at least 50 letters from 'future world champions' who ask for our support," Aarnio-Wihuri told Ilta-Sanomat. - I know Mika Hakkinen very well, and recently he came to me and asked if I could help finance Ella's career. He stopped sponsoring Bottas when Valtteri's annual earnings exceeded one million euros, but the two-time world champion also earns very well. "We made a different kind of agreement with him," explained the 84-year-old Finnish businessman, who also once competed in rallying. - Here we are talking about supporting his daughter. In addition, Mika has also helped me in the past, so you could say I'm doing him a favor in return, but we're talking about quite small sums. Ella is just starting her career in karting and competes under a Czech license, but this is not a problem. She has lived her whole life outside Finland, but she speaks Finnish. In general, we have helped dozens of drivers, even spending too much money. I've always said that one in ten, if he's lucky, can go far. And not only our company, but also I personally sponsored the racers. Over the years, I have also spent my own money, especially on kart racers..."

Other articles

Bottas' former sponsor supports Hakkinen's daughter

We've covered Antti Aarnio-Vihuri many times in the context of his long-standing business relationship with Valtteri Bottas, but now the Finnish billionaire is backing Mika Hakkinen's daughter...