Aaron Burkart
A German rally driver who conquered the competitive Junior World Rally Championship, launching himself onto the sport's global stage.
Born 1982 (age 44)·German rally driver·Birthday: September 20·Millennials
Biography
Aaron Burkart carved his path in the high-octane, sideways world of rallying. Hailing from Germany, a nation with a deep motorsport heritage, he focused on the discipline's most demanding format: the World Rally Championship. His breakthrough came in the JWRC, a spec-series for rising stars in identical Super 1600 cars, where consistency and raw talent trump financial muscle. In 2010, battling across events from the asphalt of Germany to the gravel of Finland, Burkart clinched the Junior World Rally Champion title. This victory was a passport, granting him opportunities to compete in more powerful World Rally Cars. While a full-time top-tier WRC seat remained elusive, Burkart's career exemplifies the tough, globe-trotting grind of a professional rally driver, achieving a pinnacle that many aspire to but few reach.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aaron was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aaron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Aaron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Crowned the Junior World Rally Champion (JWRC) in 2010.
- Competed in multiple seasons of the World Rally Championship across various categories.
- Drove for several professional teams, including the Suzuki Sport Europe squad in the JWRC.
Did You Know?
He is the son of former German rally driver Nick Burkart.
His co-driver for his championship-winning season was Frenchman André Kachel.
After his active driving career, he has worked as a rally instructor and commentator.
“The notes are all in the pacenotes; you just have to trust them completely.”
