LEHTO COLLECTION

Born in Espoo, Finland in 1966, JJ Lehto (Jyrki Juhani Järvilehto) stands as one of the most accomplished and versatile Finnish racing drivers of his generation, a competitor whose career bridged Formula 1, GT racing, and prototype endurance competition with exceptional success.

Lehto rose through Europe’s single-seater ladder with victories in Formula Ford, and claiming the 1988 British Formula 3 Class A Championship, before earning his place in Formula 1. From 1989 with his debut at the 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix, to 1994, delivering strong performances despite limited machinery. His third-place finish at the 1991 San Marino Grand Prix remains a defining highlight of his Grand Prix career.

As his Formula 1 tenure wound down, Lehto transitioned into endurance racing, quickly becoming one of the discipline’s most respected specialists. 

In 1995, Lehto achieved global acclaim by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the McLaren F1 GTR, McLaren’s first and only overall victory at the event. A decade later, he returned to the top step of the podium, claiming the 2005 Le Mans win alongside Marco Werner and Tom Kristensen. Between those triumphs, Lehto captured the 2004 American Le Mans Series Championship, and cemented his reputation as one of the most complete endurance drivers of the modern era.

Across three decades, JJ Lehto has become synonymous with precision, resilience, and world-class versatility, a driver whose legacy reflects the very best of Finnish determination and international success.