Kari-Pekka Laaksonen

Kari-Pekka Laaksonen (born 23 April 1967) is a Finnish racing driver currently competing in the TCR International Series. Having previously competed in Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia, Porsche GT3 Cup Finland and ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship amongst others.

Kari-Pekka Laaksonen
NationalityFinnish
Born (1967-04-23) 23 April 1967
Valkeakoski, Finland
TCR International Series career
Debut season2016
Current teamLMS Racing
Car number53
Starts2
Previous series
2016
2015
2014
2013-15
2011-12
2010		ADAC TCR German Series
VLN
Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia
Porsche GT3 Cup Finland
Finnish Xtreme Race Cup
Finnish V1600 Cup

Business career

Laaksonen has been active in the transport sector throughout his professional career. After graduating Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT and a number of management positions, Laaksonen became CEO of Containerships Plc in 2011 and remained at the company when it was integrated into the CMA CGM group.[1] The Fin left the company in June 2019 to join Samskip. The move required Laaksonen to move to Rotterdam where the Samskip headquarters are located.[2]

Racing career

Laaksonen began his career in 2010 in the Finnish V1600 Cup, he finished eighth in the championship standings that year. He switched to the Finnish Xtreme Race Cup in 2011 and finished fourteenth in the championship standings in both 2011 and 2012. In 2013 he switched to the Porsche GT3 Cup Finland series, taking three podiums in his first season in the championship. Continuing in the series in 2014, he took two wins and five podiums, finishing seventh in the championship standings that year. He only entered four races in the series in 2015, but still took one victory and two podiums. He also raced in the 2015 24 Hours of Nürburgring, finishing twelfth in the SP7 class. In 2016 he switched to the all new 2016 ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship[3]

In August 2016 it was announced that he would race in the TCR International Series, driving a SEAT León Cup Racer for LMS Racing.[4][5]

Racing record

Complete TCR International Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2016 LMS Racing SEAT León Cup Racer BHR
1		 BHR
2		 POR
1		 POR
2		 BEL
1		 BEL
2		 ITA
1		 ITA
2		 AUT
1		 AUT
2		 GER
1		 GER
2		 RUS
1		 RUS
2		 THA
1
17		 THA
2
13		 SIN
1		 SIN
2		 MYS
1		 MYS
2		 MAC
1		 MAC
2		 NC 0

TCR Spa 500 results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2019 Switzerland TOPCAR Sport with Bas Koeten Racing Spain Mikel Azcona
Switzerland Julien Apotheloz
Switzerland Fabian Danz
Finland Antti Buri		 CUPRA León TCR P 444 3rd 3rd

References
  1. "Containerships CEO Kari-Pekka Laaksonen resigns".
  2. "Samskip picks Kari-Pekka Laaksonen as Group CEO to lead customer-focused logistics strategy". 11 July 2019.
  3. "Kari-Pekka Laaksonen career statistics". Driver Database. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. "A strong Thai contingent enhances the field to 26 cars". tcr-series.com. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. Hudson, Neil (25 August 2016). "Last-minute scramble for replacement Alfa Romeo driver in Buriram". TouringCarTimes.com. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
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