Martti Ritonen is a name you should remember.

If everything goes according to plan, this 15-year-old from Tampere could one day be racing in the American IndyCar series.

There’s still a long way to go, but the first steps have been taken.

Ritonen was selected as the first test driver for the Indy Junior Academy Finland–USA project from eleven applicants. Vilho Aatola, a 15-year-old from Turku, was chosen as the reserve driver.

The young Indy team consists of eight candidates in total, and another one of them may also get a chance in the future.

Experienced motorsport veteran and influencer Tero Palmroth established the Indy Junior Academy in early summer of 2023. The goal was to test and select a 13–16-year-old Finnish karting talent as the academy’s first “Conqueror of America.”

“This could turn into a success story like how Finnish hockey players have thrived in the NHL once they got their foot in the door. My job is to ensure that the driver doesn’t end up in the wrong place in the jungle of American motorsports,” Palmroth says.

Palmroth, 71, emphasizes that this is a multi-year project. He gained further confidence in the project this summer after watching youth karting races across Finland.

Palmroth was impressed by what he saw.

“There is an immense amount of talent on Finnish karting tracks.”

Earlier in the spring, former F1 driver Jyrki Järvilehto had promised to scout suitable candidates, but he stepped away from the project in the summer.

At the Finnish Karting Championship races in Lappeenranta in July, Palmroth found a new partner when Jari Tallgren, a teacher from the Omnia Educational Consortium in Espoo, approached him.

Seven years ago, Tallgren established a unique motorsport career program at Omnia. The training to become a mechanic takes two to three years, after which all 20 or so students secure top-tier jobs.

For example, six mechanics working with Toyota’s team in the World Rally Championship graduated from Omnia.

The mechanic training program also supports drivers, such as 17-year-old Tuukka Taponen, who is part of Ferrari’s junior academy and enrolled at Omnia.

Even 2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen trained as a mechanic at Omnia, although at that time, the specialized motorsport program did not yet exist.

“Mechanics are far too often overlooked in this sport. They are essential in making sure the driver’s car is both fast and reliable,” says Palmroth.

A mechanic can be compared to a golfer’s caddie, who assists with club selection and game strategy.

Tallgren first read about Palmroth’s Indy Academy in Helsingin Sanomat and was immediately intrigued.

He mentioned that he could arrange for a skilled mechanic to support the selected driver, smoothing the young Indy driver’s career path in the United States.

When Ritonen conducts a two-day test in the U.S. at the end of September, he will be accompanied by 22-year-old Jiri Nummelin, an Omnia-trained mechanic. Despite his young age, Nummelin already has extensive experience in international motorsports.

Nummelin will also take on the role of test trip coordinator and organizer.

“Heading to America is a good move. The market there is huge, and it’s a great time to go when Finland is in the spotlight,” Tallgren says.

Selected mechanic students at Omnia receive free education, whereas similar training elsewhere in Europe costs around 20,000 euros per semester. In Japan, the entire course can cost up to $100,000.

“A mechanic with just a dirty face won’t cut it anymore. You need to know languages and have social skills,” Tallgren adds.

A large portion of those selected come from outside the capital region.

“There’s a strong motivation for the training. Everyone graduates, and 70 percent of the internships take place abroad.”

Ritonen will conduct his Indy tests with Jay Howarth’s team, which competes with three cars across five different series classes.

Below the main series, there are four classes: Indy NXT, USF Pro 2000, USF 2000, and USF Juniors, which is where Ritonen will be testing.

In the U.S., drivers can compete in the junior Indy series if they turn 14 during that season. The USF Juniors class is equivalent to Formula 4 in Europe.

“The future stars compete in these lower classes,” says Palmroth, who raced in the main series’ Indianapolis 500 four times between 1988 and 1991.

Ritonen will run his tests on a regular circuit near Chicago, not on the oval tracks typically used in Indy races.

“Martti is a fast driver with experience. Plus, he knows how to shift gears,” Palmroth says.

Quick gear shifting is crucial in Indy cars. In karting, only the higher classes use gears, so not everyone is familiar with them.

Martti Ritonen is honored to be chosen as the Indy Academy’s first test driver. He will turn 16 almost the same day the tests in Chicago wrap up in September.

“It feels really good. It’s great to have the opportunity to test and see if it leads to anything. At least I won’t have to regret not trying. I’m not putting pressure on myself,” Ritonen says.

He is currently attending a vocational school for the automotive industry in Tampere and already has a background in automotive technology.

In international karting competitions in Europe, Ritonen says he’s managed well with English.

He’s also confident in his social skills, which are crucial in the U.S.

“Yeah, that won’t be an issue,” he adds.

The Indy tests cost $20,000, with Indy Junior Academy covering half and the driver’s family covering the other half.

“My family has always supported me,” Ritonen says.

If any parts of the car break during testing, the academy and the team will split the cost equally.

“This is a clearly commercial sport, and it costs more than something like javelin or ice skates,” Palmroth notes.

The academy has also gained support from two companies in Tampere. Additionally, Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, the principal owner of the multi-industry company Wihuri and a motorsport patron, is backing the project.

Jukka Valtasaari, who served as Finland’s ambassador to Washington, is the mentor for this startup project.

“This is part of a good international education for young people, making it a very intriguing endeavor,” Valtasaari says.

If a Finnish driver secures a spot and starts performing well, they would receive a salary from the team. The lower series’ organization and partners, like tire manufacturers, provide prize money and offer scholarships to top drivers.

Palmroth emphasizes that the funding must be on solid ground.

The driver would pay a percentage of their salary to the academy and sponsors only if they earn over a million dollars.

However, that could take some time.

“There’s no doubt this project will succeed. I have complete confidence in it. The Finnish genetic traits—courage and authenticity—are a perfect match for the American racing culture,” Palmroth says.