Joona Waronen #43

Joona Waronen is a highly accomplished Finnish drift driver whose career combines elite-level simulator drifting with success on the real-world competition circuit. A multiple-time Finnish simulator drifting champion, Joona has established himself as one of Finland’s leading sim drifters and has also earned international recognition for his exceptional car control and competitive ability.

In 2024, Joona reached a major milestone in his simulator career by securing 2nd place in the global simulator drifting rankings. His performances against the world’s best sim drifters established him as a top-level competitor and laid the foundation for his transition into real-world drifting.

Joona represents Black Smoke Racing, a team known for its work in both drifting and automotive performance. His move from the simulator to a real competition car marked an important new chapter in his career.

2025 – The First Full Step Into Real-World Drifting

The 2025 season saw Joona establish himself as a competitive real-world drift driver. He competed with a BabyBenz, a drift car built by Black Smoke Racing for one of the team’s customers and provided to Joona as a loan car for the season.

Despite competing with a customer-built loan car rather than a dedicated factory-style race programme, Joona delivered strong results throughout the season. His performances demonstrated that the skills developed through years of simulator competition could be successfully transferred to a real drift car, while also giving him valuable experience in the physical demands of professional drifting.

2026 – A New Car and Major Results

For the 2026 season, Joona stepped into a completely new chapter with Black Smoke Racing’s Mercedes-Benz AMG GT drift car. The new car provided a significant platform for Joona to further demonstrate his abilities at the highest level of Finnish drifting.

The season produced several major highlights. Joona took victory at Venetsia Drifting 2026, adding another significant win to his real-world drifting résumé.

He also made a major impact in the Finnish Drifting Championship final, where he entered the event as a wildcard. Competing against the established championship drivers, Joona delivered an outstanding performance and finished 2nd in the SM final.

His 2026 results further cemented his position as one of Finland’s most interesting crossover talents between simulator and real-world drifting.

Virtual Experience. Real-World Results.

Joona’s career is distinguished by the rare combination of extensive simulator experience and proven real-world performance. Years of competing at the highest level in simulator drifting have developed his precision, consistency, reaction speed and understanding of vehicle dynamics – skills that have translated directly onto the physical track.

From being ranked #2 in the world in simulator drifting, to competing successfully in a customer-built BabyBenz, and ultimately achieving major victories and podium results with Black Smoke Racing’s Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, Joona Waronen continues to build a reputation as a versatile and highly competitive drift driver.

With his combination of virtual and real-world experience, Joona represents a new generation of drivers who can bridge the gap between e-motorsport and traditional motorsport – bringing simulator-level precision and racecraft to the real drift track.