Motorsport | The plans of the Indy Academy are changing: A new Finnish driver for a huge project

Tero Palmroth the young driver of the Indy junior Academy project is changing.

Selected for test runs Martti Ritonen instead, the one selected as a substitute driver will go to the United States Vilho Aatola.

Palmroth and Ritonen’s family could not reach an agreement on the terms of the contract.

At the same time, the test track and the Indy car series stable will change. The new test team for Aatola is DEForce Racing, which is led by the well-known in the series David Martinez and Ernesto Martinez.

The tests will be held on the 6th–7th. in November in Houston, Texas, home of the stable.

To begin with The young Finnish aspiring to the Indy series had to drive the tests Jay Howarth stable in Chicago.

Palmroth the goal is to establish a driving position for young Finns, when a suitable driver and stable is found. Fifteen-year-old Aatola thus becomes the first entrepreneur.

“This is a multi-year project. Aatola is a talented young person whose values ​​and background are in order. This provides a good basis for success and continuation”, says Palmroth. He participated in the series’ main event, the Indianapolis 500, four times between 1988 and 1991.

Below the actual main series are four classes: Indy Nxt, USF Pro 2000, USF 2000 and USF Juniors, which is Aatola’s test bed.

In the United States, you can drive the junior Indy series if the driver turns 14 that season. The USF Juniors class is equivalent to the formula 4 class in Europe.

In addition to Palmroth, the supporters of the Indy Junior Academy include, among others, the motor sports patronage Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, former ambassador of Finland Jukka Valtasaari and former CEO of HJK Kari Haapiainen and companies.

The Espoo region’s education municipality association Omnia is also involved in the project.

Omnia’s teacher Jari Tallgren established a unique motor sports career training in Omnia seven years ago, which is part of the activities of the sports academy Urhea in the capital region.

On the weekend Aatola from Turku drove to victory in Bruck, Austria, in the last race of the Central-European Rotax Max karting series.

In his rookie season, Aatola finished third in the series among 60 drivers. There were five races in the series in Italy. in Slovenia, Czech Republic and Austria.

Aatola did some of her race trips alone or with a mechanic. On some trips, the company was also accompanied by father or mother.

“Little by little, you have to start becoming independent. Vilho already manages comfortably in English and is constantly learning more vocabulary related to the sport”, mother Anne Aatola tells.

Aatola represents South West Karting from Paimio and has driven the Rotax Max series in the CEE Austrian KSB Racing team.

“The Americans immediately noted Aatola’s victory in Austria,” says Palmroth.

of Palmroth With the Indy project, Aatolat has so far only committed to the test phase. The continuation will be decided after the feedback received from the tests.

If a Finnish driver got a place and started to succeed in the Indy series for young drivers, he would receive a salary from the team for driving.

The organization of the lower series and partners, such as the tire manufacturer, are responsible for the prize money and distribute scholarships to the best drivers.

“We are really excited. In the negotiations with Tero, we have been on the same line the whole time. However, we were already mentally prepared for Vilho to pass the tests, says Anne Aatola.

He and Omnia’s mechanic Jiri Nummelin coordinate the test trip and go to Texas together with Vilho Aatola.