Doretto, Kauppinen, and Vaher join Johansson to complete a formidable quartet in the continental series.
The three debutants, alongside Mille Johansson, strengthen the lineup of the most promising young drivers on the international rallying scene.
Stellantis Group has been selected as the official car supplier for this ambitious project. The Lancia Ypsilon, which made a striking return to rallying at the end of last season, will spearhead this three-pronged campaign. Anticipation is running high as the team awaits the cars from the manufacturer, ready to replace with the Peugeot 208 in case of late deliveries.
Listed in alphabetical order rather than by merit: Matteo Doretto, last year’s Italian Junior Champion, cashes in on his 2025 prize, supported by Gass Racing and ACI Team Italia, which continues its collaboration with MS Munaretto in backing Italy’s rising rally stars. Doretto has already shown a good pace on Rally4 Cars during his experiences in the final part of the 2024 season.
Tuukka Kauppinen, a Finnish talent rapidly making a name for himself among the ranks of the legendary Flying Finns, has already left a mark on the national championship. He became the youngest-ever winner of the Arctic Lapland Rally, kicking off the current season in style. Now, he is gearing up to tackle continental challenges that will undoubtedly accelerate his professional growth and international recognition. The 18-year-old Finn benefits from the backing of Rautio Motorsport, Finland’s premier talent development programme.
Both Doretto and Kauppinen will also take on the 2WD Italian Rally Championship (Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally Sparco – CIAR), with the dual aim of gaining valuable mileage while keeping a close eye on the standings.
Andrea Budoia and Samuele Pellegrino will alternate between the European and Italian programmes next to Matteo Doretto, while Veli-Pekka Karttunen will co-drive Tukka Kauppinen.
Jaspar Vaher, one of the most closely watched talents to emerge from Estonia, has already showcased his potential in recent European outings in Hungary and Estonia. The newly turned 18-year-old is supported by the Estonian Federation’s talent scouting initiative – Team Estonia Autosport – and co-driven by Sander Pruul. In parallel with his Junior ERC commitments, the young Estonian, alongside co-driver Rait Jansen, will contest the IRCup Championship on Italian soil.
For the European challenges, Hankook will fit the cars of the three drivers, while for the Italian races, Doretto will opt for Michelin tyres, Kauppinen will again be supplied by the Korean manufacturer and Vaher by Pirelli.
The Team Manager Marco Savini shared his enthusiasm for the new lineup:
“We are incredibly proud to welcome Matteo, Tuukka, and Jaspar to the MS Munaretto family. These young drivers represent the future of rallying, and we are confident that, with our support, they will continue to grow into top-level competitors. Each of them has already shown great promise, and we are excited to see how they perform on the European stage. Our goal is not only to compete at the highest level in the Junior ERC, but also to provide our drivers with the best possible platform to develop their skills. This will be an incredibly exciting season for us.”
This formidable trio joins Mille Johansson, who has already been confirmed for the ERC at the wheel of the Skoda Fabia Rally2 EVO, completing a quartet of rising stars.
MS Munaretto reaffirms its status as one of the premier talent-scouting teams in rallying, positioning itself as a key reference point in Europe for young prospects supported by their respective federations.
