Myartin, Markko

Markko from a rally family: already in childhood, with his father, he regularly visited various regional competitions and not only watched the races from the outside, but also watched the world of such championships from the inside, periodically even traveling through special stages in those cars. help. However, until eighteen years old, in order not to conflict with local law, the family did not allow Myartin Jr. himself to participate in the rally ^[2] .

Markko made his rally debut in 1994 on his uncle's remade Lada Samara . Together with Robi Jaanus, he was able to quickly compete on equal terms with the leaders of his category in national competitions, by the end of the second season becoming the champion of Estonia. Feeling an ever stronger desire to connect his life with the rally, the Estonian in 1996 finds the opportunity to buy more competitive equipment by acquiring Ford Escort . This car allows the Estonian to speed up and finish several times on the podium in the overall standings at national starts. The absence of any serious accidents during this period allowed Martin to resell this equipment at the end of the season with a 20% profit.

Over the next couple of years, Markko, along with Toomas Kitsing, will participate in various North European starts, piloting modifications of the Toyota Celica . During this period, Martin’s professional level as a pilot grows, and gradually increasing results allow him to have stable sponsorship and take part in increasingly prestigious races: in August 1997, the Estonian made his debut in the WRC , taking part in the rally in Finland . The competition could not be completed due to an inappropriately refused checkpoint.

Over the next few years, Markko is increasingly participating in the World Cup: in 1999, for the first time he manages to get a car prepared according to the World Rally Car regulations, and already in the second rally - in Sweden - lead her to eighth in the absolute, ahead of several pilots factory teams. A fast beginner with stable sponsorship is interested in representatives of the Toyota sports program who agree to provide their Estonian with their car along with technical support at the competitions. At the beginning of 2000, another important change in Martin's career took place: instead of numerous compatriots, British park Michael took the place of his navigator. The new alliance quickly began to show good results.

Confident races of the new combination also attracted the attention of factory teams: in 2000-2001 he spent ten stages of the WRC for the Subaru factory team , and in 2002 joined the Ford WRT . In the Malcolm Wilson team, the Estonian is gradually adding to the results, and in 2003, when its leading pilots Colin MacRae and Carlos Sainz left the British organization, it became its new leader. Martin and his partner Francois Duval successfully replace the experienced Spaniard and Briton and already in the first season in a new status they look quite confidently at the stages of the World Cup. Markko was able to win two rallies, taking fourth place in the individual standings, among others ahead of the experienced Markus Grenholm at Peugeot . A year later, Martin confirms a similar level of results, winning three more WRC stages and taking third place in the championship.

Before the 2005 season, competitors lured a fast pair of Ford pilots: Duval went to Citroën ; and Markko went to Peugeot . In a new place, the Estonian confirmed its speed and stability, competing on equal terms with the two-time world champion Grönholm. It was not possible to win for the time being, but stable finishes at the near-podium positions allowed him to stay in the leading group of the individual standings. In September, an event took place that put an end to Estonian’s career in the World Cup: at one of the high-speed sections Markko overdid it in the fast lane and lost the car at a speed of 200 km / h: it turned around, threw it on the side of the road and hit a tree. The car flew into the tree with exactly the right door: the impact force exceeded the maximum according to the then technical regulations and the park on the right received injuries incompatible with life, Martin escaped with minor injuries. ^[3] Shocked by the death of his partner, the Estonian soon announced his resignation from WRC .

Over the next few years, Markko took part in small regional rallies, tested new cars for Ford and Mini factory programs. In 2006, the Estonian tried himself in purely circuit races, having spent several starts in DTC .

Rally Performance Chart

WRC Rally

Ring Race Summary Statistics

• Markko is the first driver from the post-Soviet space to win the stages of the World Rally Championship .

• Profile (English) on Driver Database
• Profile (English) on ewrc-results.com
• Profile (English) on juwra.com
• Profile (English) on rallye-info.com