Finnish rally co-driver Enni Mälkönen made history as the first woman to win a WRC3 championship title, and she’s been reshaping what’s possible for women in rallying ever since.

EARLY YEARS

Born on September 25, 1990, in Finland, Enni Mälkönen didn’t exactly follow a straight line into the co-driver’s seat. Her father was a rally driver, but before she ever considered following in his footsteps, she was busy chasing a completely different kind of adrenaline rush: competitive showjumping. For years, horses were her thing—the speed, the precision, the partnership required between rider and animal. It was good training for what would come later, even if she didn’t know it yet.

Then her horse got injured, and just like that, her showjumping career was over. It’s the kind of setback that could’ve derailed everything, but instead, it redirected her. With showjumping off the table, Mälkönen turned to the sport that had always been there in the background: rallying. Her father’s influence finally had room to work its magic, and she made her competitive rally debut in 2012, at around 22 years old. By day, she worked as an engineer in the construction field—practical, grounded, detail-oriented. By any other measure, it was the perfect foundation for a co-driver who’d need to stay calm, precise, and unshakable under pressure.

OTHER INTERESTS

Before rallying took over, Mälkönen was a serious showjumper, competing at a high level until an injury to her horse ended that chapter. The skills she developed—timing, focus, trust in a partner—translated surprisingly well into the rally world, where the relationship between driver and co-driver can make or break a team.

EARLY SUCCESS

Mälkönen’s first big break came in 2018 when she met driver Sami Pajari at a rally test. She’d already been rallying for years by that point—quietly building experience, learning thecraft, figuring out how to read pace notes like poetry and call corners like her life depended on it. Because, well, it kind of did. They didn’t race together immediately, but when they finally teamed up in 2021, it clicked. That year, she made her WRC debut at the Arctic Rally Finland in Rovaniemi as a last-minute substitute for Pajari. It wasn’t just a debut—it was a statement.

By the end of 2021, Mälkönen and Pajari had won both the WRC3 Co-Drivers’ Championship and the Junior WRC Co-Drivers’ Championship. She became the first woman ever to secure a WRC3 title. It was the kind of achievement that doesn’t just open doors—it kicks them off their hinges. “It is a dream come true indeed,” she said at the time. “Ten years ago it seemed anything like this would be out of this world, but here we are now.”

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: WRC3 Co-Drivers’ Champion with Sami Pajari—first woman to win the title.
• 2021: Junior WRC Co-Drivers’ Champion with Sami Pajari.
• 2024: WRC2 Co-Drivers’ Champion with Sami Pajari, securing three wins and six podiums throughout the season.
• 2024: Fourth place at Rally Finland in the Rally1 class with Sami Pajari, competing in three Rally1 events total (Finland, Chile, and Central Europe).
• 2025: Finnish Rally Champions with Esapekka Lappi, earning five wins after a third-place finish on their first outing together.

INSPIRATIONS

Mälkönen didn’t grow up with a motorsport idol, and for good reason. “I didn’t have a motorsport idol because when I was younger there were no women at the top of motorsport,” she’s said. “I think it’s important to have women at the top because it’s not easy to dream something you cannot see.” Her father, a rally driver himself, was her most direct influence, but it was the absence of female role models that seems to have fueled her determination to become one. Mentors like Sami Pajari, who impressed her early on and helped her break into the WRC, and Esapekka Lappi, whose professionalism has elevated her own skills, have been critical to her development. “It has been amazing to work with such an experienced and professional driver,” she said of Lappi, “and it brings a lot of added value to my own professional skills.”

REPUTATION

Mälkönen has built a reputation as one of the most talented and determined co-drivers in rallying. She’s known for her love of high-speed stages—fitting, given that she competes in Finland, which she happily points out has “the best rally stages in the world.” Her work ethic is no joke; when asked about her success, she’s blunt: “There’s no secret—it’s only hard work!” The media has consistently highlighted her history-making achievements, and she’s widely regarded as a trailblazer for women in motorsport. She lost her Rally1 seat with Pajari after their 2024 WRC2 title when he moved up to a full Rally1 program with Toyota, but rather than seeing it as a setback, she pivoted—partnering with Lappi and proving she’s just as dangerous with a new driver. She’s also made it clear that rallying isn’t a solo pursuit: “Rallying is definitely not an individual sport,” she’s said, emphasizing the trust and teamwork required between driver and co-driver.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Mälkönen is currently signed with Hyundai Motorsport, where she’s co-driving for Esapekka Lappi in the WRC starting in 2026. After winning the 2025 Finnish Championship together—five wins strong—the partnership is clearly working. She’s already racked up 25 WRC starts by the end of 2025, and she’s made it clear she wants back into Rally1 full-time. “I was really happy when EP called me and presented this project,” she said of joining Lappi. Her goal is simple: regain a permanent Rally1 seat while continuing to enjoy the sport itself. “While aiming for success, it’s important to be able to enjoy the sport itself,” she’s noted. And when she does celebrate success? She keeps it real: after one big win, she said, “The best celebration was that I finally got to eat a good meal and slept well!” With Hyundai backing her and Lappi in the driver’s seat, she’s got the platform to make it happen.

References:

Hyundai Motorsport Official Profile
Racers Behind the Helmet – Historic WRC3 Titles
DirtFish – Enni Mälkönen Rally1 Ambitions Interview
Škoda Motorsport Profile
WRC.com Driver Page
DirtFish – Women in Motorsport Feature