1986 MOTOR SHOW
ESSEN (GERMANY)
Keke Rosberg, posing with Marie-Jeanne and Mathias

Keke - real Christian name Keijo - gained his early motor racing experience in Formula Vee single seaters before making a name for himself in Formula 2 and emerging a surprise winner of the rain-soaked 1978 Silverstone International Trophy race driving the Theodore-Ford owned by Hong Kong millionaire Teddy Yip.
In 1980 and 81 he drove for the Fittipaldi team, but this was fading fast and he eventually decided to leave midway through the second season. Nevertheless, he'd made sufficient of an impression to be selected for a Williams test at Paul Ricard once Alan Jones announced his retirement. Rosberg proved to be an absolute revelation and got the job. Initially Rosberg was expected to take the number two role as teammate to Carlos Reutemann, but when the Argentine driver quit the sport after only two races the Flying Finn was propelled into the team leadership, a role he fulfilled with enormous relish. To take the '82 Championship at the wheel of the naturally aspirated Cosworth-engined Williams FW08 was quite an achievement. He drove his heart out from the start and, although he only won a single Grand Prix, that achievement was set against an unusual season in which no driver managed more than two victories. He retired at the end of 1986 and for many years managed double World Champion Mika Hakkinen.
In recent years Rosberg has run a string of racing teams in Germany, winning the German F3 title in 2002 with Gary Paffett. He is also keeping an eye on the career of his son Nico, who tested a Williams at the end of 2002 after winning the Formula BMW series.