Biography

A mystery man of the desert, Risto Niemi represents the international appeal that has made SCORE racing a global phenomenon. At 56, the Finnish competitor brings decades of motorsports experience to the brutal Baja peninsula, where mechanical reliability and driver endurance determine champions from casualties.

Niemi embodies the evolution of desert racing that SCORE Magazine highlights - where technology must be both reliable and accessible to survive the punishing terrain from Ensenada to La Paz. His participation in SCORE's 50th Anniversary season connects him to a legendary motorsports tradition that has attracted competitors from around the world to test themselves against Baja's unforgiving landscape.

Operating with the precision and determination characteristic of Scandinavian motorsports culture, Niemi tackles the same courses that have challenged icons like Walker Evans and Mark McMillin. His commitment to crossing finish lines in events like the SCORE Baja 400 and Baja 1000 demonstrates the international brotherhood that defines desert racing.

Whether navigating the technical sections of the Baja 500 or enduring the marathon challenge of the Baja 1000, Niemi continues building his legacy one mile at a time across Mexico's most challenging terrain.