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Family
Three Generations of Racing Rosberg's
A Family Obsession from Karting to Formula 1
The SubaruSport series was a concept born in the late 1980’s from Ykä Palotie and Keke Rosberg, both key members of the 500-Kerho racing club. They were concerned that the pathway for Finnish drivers racing in Finland was too expensive and disorganised. Crucially they believed that these factors were damaging the next generation's progression into elite European motorsport.
Together they wanted to create a Finnish championship that operated in a similar way to how the Formula Vee format had in the 1970’s. The Finnish national series had helped elevate Keke from karting up the ladder into European Super Vee, Formula 2 and ultimately F1. Finland did have its own national Formula Ford competition at this time, but it wasn’t able to attract the numbers required to make it a competitive championship.
Lars Rosberg (Keke's father)
Finnish Karting Pioneer
On December 6, 1948, Keijo Erik Rosberg was born in Solna, Stockholm County, Sweden. Nicknamed Keke (easier to pronounce), he and his parents moved back to their native Finland early in his life, and he took Finnish nationality. His early career in motorsport was a departure for a Finnish motorsport driver of the time, choosing with success to go circuit racing in Formula Vee, Formula Atlantic, Formula Pacific, Can Am and the F1 feeder series Formula 2.
Keke’s first drive in F1 was with the Theodore team in 1978, immediately making a name for himself winning the non-Championship BRDC International Trophy at Silverstone. In very wet conditions he beat some of the biggest and most established names from F1, only his 2nd race. After this early success he had a series of bad seasons with uncompetitive teams, the pointless ‘81 season particularly bad. Despite this he impressed the Williams team, and with a seat spare in 1982 after Alan Jones’ sudden retirement, Keke finally had a competitive drive. He took full advantage of it, winning his first grand prix at Dijon, and taking the 1982 F1 World Championship.
Lars Rosberg: Karting results
1962 Finnish Championship
Lars Rosberg: Rallying results
1954 Rally of the 1000 Lakes
1955 European Rally Championship - Rally Monte-Carlo (Co-driver)
1956 Hankiralli (Snow Rally)
1959 European Rally Championship - Rally of the 1000 Lakes (Co-driver)
1960 European Rally Championship - Rally of the 1000 Lakes (Co-driver)
Lea Rosberg (Keke's mother)
On December 6, 1948, Keijo Erik Rosberg was born in Solna, Stockholm County, Sweden. Nicknamed Keke (easier to pronounce), he and his parents moved back to their native Finland early in his life, and he took Finnish nationality. His early career in motorsport was a departure for a Finnish motorsport driver of the time, choosing with success to go circuit racing in Formula Vee, Formula Atlantic, Formula Pacific, Can Am and the F1 feeder series Formula 2.
Rallying results
1956 Rally of the 1000 Lakes (Co-driver)
Nico Rosberg (Keke's son)
The SubaruSport series was a concept born in the late 1980’s from Ykä Palotie and Keke Rosberg, both key members of the 500-Kerho racing club. They were concerned that the pathway for Finnish drivers racing in Finland was too expensive and disorganised. Crucially they believed that these factors were damaging the next generation's progression into elite European motorsport.
Marko Rosberg (Keke's nephew)
The SubaruSport series was a concept born in the late 1980’s from Ykä Palotie and Keke Rosberg, both key members of the 500-Kerho racing club. They were concerned that the pathway for Finnish drivers racing in Finland was too expensive and disorganised. Crucially they believed that these factors were damaging the next generation's progression into elite European motorsport.