Michael Mällinen

Michael Mällinen (born March 4, 1958) is a racecar driver from the United States.

Mällinen raced in formula car and sports prototype series in IMSA, ALMS, Atlantic Championship, and SCCA. He won several US National titles and Championships in the Formula Atlantic series.

Mällinen had 65 starts with 18 wins, 36 podiums, ten poles, and ten fastest laps during his career.

Career

Mällinen began his racing career in the 1990s driving Formula Ford and sports racers built by Lola cars in SCCA, Conference and endurance series.

In 2004, Mällinen won the SCCA C Sports Racer championship in the northeast division. Mällinen began racing Formula Atlantic in 2005. In 2006, he was the runner up in the Southeast SCCA Formula Atlantic championship driving a Ralt RT41. In 2007, he finished third in Formula Atlantic and made his debut in IMSA Lites in the L2 class driving a Stohr sports prototype. In 2008, Mällinen raced in the IMSA Lites L1 class driving an Élan Motorsport Technologies DP02 sports prototype and won the 2008 Formula Atlantic championship driving a Swift Engineering TRD 014.a for Swan Racing in the southeast division.

In 2009 Mällinen made his debut in the IMSA Atlantic Championship racing for Swan Racing and won the Championship (C2) with four wins and three pole positions. In 2010, Mällinen won the American Road Race of Champions, finished third in the SCCA Formula Atlantic national championship series and third in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs driving a Swift Engineering TRD 014.a for Swan Racing. In 2010, Mällinen won seven races and eight pole positions. In 2011, Mällinen won the 2011 US National Championship, SCCA National Championship Runoffs, Division Championship, June Sprints, and the Triple Crown. Mällinen was the recipient of the Sports Car Club of America's 2011 Super Sweep Award in recognition of winning the National Championship, National Championship Runoffs, Division Title and various other races in a single season. In 2012, Mällinen finished second in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs driving a Swift Engineering TRD 014.a for Swan Racing. In 2013, Mällinen finished third in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs driving a Swift Engineering Cosworth 016.a for Swan Racing.

In 2014 at Laguna Seca, Mällinen started from pole position and retired while leading the race due to a gearbox issue. And again, in 2015 at Daytona, Mällinen started from second and retired while leading with a mechanical issue. In 2020 at Road America, Mällinen finished sixth in the SCCA National Championship Runoffs driving a Swift Engineering TRD 016.a for Swan Racing.

Racing record

SCCA National Championship Runoffs

Year Track Car Engine Class Finish Start Status 2004 Mid-Ohio Radical SR3 Suzuki C Sports Racer 8 13 Running 2005 Mid-Ohio Stohr 05CT Suzuki C Sports Racer 13 5 Retired 2006 Heartland Park Ralt RT41 Toyota Formula Atlantic 8 11 Retired 2007 Heartland Park Ralt RT41 Toyota Formula Atlantic 13 12 Retired 2008 Heartland Park Swift 014.a Toyota Formula Atlantic 9 6 Retired 2010 Road America Swift 014.a Toyota Formula Atlantic 3 3 Running 2011 Road America Swift 014.a Toyota Formula Atlantic 1 1 Running 2012 Road America Swift 014.a Toyota Formula Atlantic 2 3 Running 2013 Road America Swift 016.a Mazda-Cosworth Formula Atlantic 3 3 Running 2014 Laguna Seca Swift 016.a Mazda-Cosworth Formula Atlantic 11 1 Retired 2015 Daytona Swift 016.a Mazda-Cosworth Formula Atlantic 10 2 Retired 2020 Road America Swift 016.a Mazda-Cosworth Formula Atlantic 6 5 Running

American open–wheel racing results (key)

Atlantic Championship

American sports prototype racing results (key)

IMSA Lites Championship