Toni Vilander
A Finnish master of endurance racing who became a cornerstone of Ferrari's modern GT program, conquering the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Finnish racing driver·Birthday: July 25·Generation X
Biography
Toni Vilander won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTE Pro class twice — first in 2012 and again in 2014 — driving for AF Corse and Risi Competizione. Born in Kankaanpää, Finland, in 1980, he moved from open-wheel racing to sports cars and became a central figure in Ferrari's GT programs. Vilander's aggressive yet consistent driving style delivered multiple American Le Mans Series championships with Risi Competizione, and he earned a reputation for precise technical feedback that helped develop Ferrari's GT cars. His stamina and focus made him a natural fit for endurance racing. Beyond Le Mans, he also won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2014. Vilander retired from full-time racing in 2020, respected for his team-first mentality and ability to perform under sustained pressure.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Toni was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Toni Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Toni's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro class twice, in 2012 and 2014.
- Secured the American Le Mans Series GT class championship in 2012.
- Earned multiple class victories in the prestigious 12 Hours of Sebring.
- Was a long-time factory driver for Ferrari's GT racing division.
Did You Know?
He made his Formula 1 testing debut with the Sauber team in 2004.
Vilander's first major racing title was the 2007 Finnish Touring Car Championship.
He is known for his distinctive, heavily tinted racing helmet visor.
“Endurance racing is about perfect execution over hours, not just one lap.”
