Michael Mällinen

Mallinen winning the 2011 SCCA National Runoffs in Formula Atlantic

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

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

Mällinen had 65 starts with 18 wins, 36 podiums, 10 poles, and 10 fastest laps during his 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, he 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 4 wins and 3 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 7 races and 8 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

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2009 Swan Racing SEB
16
UTA
10
NJ1
14
NJ2
14
LIM ACC1 ACC2 MDO
9
TRR MOS ATL LS N.C. 0
2009 C2 Swan Racing SEB
5
UTA
1
NJ1
1
NJ2
1
LIM ACC1 ACC2 MDO
1
TRR MOS ATL LS 1st 93
2014 Swan Racing ATL1
7
ATL2
8
WGI1
12
WGI2
19
VIR1
7
VIR2
5
MDO1
12
MDO2
18
TOM1 TOM2 11th 160

American sports prototype racing results

(key)

IMSA Lites Championship

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points
2007 PVM Racing SEB1 SEB2 MMP1
4
MMP2
4
LIM1 LIM2 MOS1 MOS2 ATL1 ATL2 LS1 LS2 9th 20
2008 Leslie Racing SEB1
12
SEB2
14
MMP1 MMP2 LIM1 LIM2 MOS1
12
MOS2
11
ATL1 ATL2 LS1 LS2 20th 15