Former European Champion Remembers the Operator Challenge
Hannu Jantunen was crowned Europe’s top machine operator 25 years ago. Finnish operators stand out in these competitions for their skill and composure.
—
At the Machinery Days held in Oulu in May, a touch of nostalgia filled the air when legendary operator-challenge champion Hannu Jantunen stopped by Avesco’s branch. Around the turn of the millennium, Jantunen made a name for himself in the European precision-driving championships, now known as the Global Operator Challenge (GOC). In this Caterpillar-hosted contest, operators tackle demanding tasks requiring accuracy and skill with various earthmoving machines.
Originally from Haapavesi, Jantunen first entered a driving-skills competition on a whim in 1998 in Oulu, where a regional event for Northern Finland was being held. By then he had already run his own earthmoving business for ten years, so working with heavy machinery was second nature to him. Several Finnish competitors were sent to the European finals in Málaga, and the trip was a resounding success: Finland swept the podium with a triple victory. For Jantunen, the competition journey was a one-of-a-kind experience in many ways.
“I had never stayed in a hotel, never been on a plane, or traveled abroad. In Spain it felt like a real carnival, and there were hundreds of people in the crowd,” he recalls.
Third Time’s the Charm
In Jantunen’s first competition year in 1998, Janne Leppänen claimed the top podium spot in Málaga, Timo Honkaniemi earned silver, and Jantunen himself took bronze. The experience encouraged him to compete twice more: in 1999 he secured silver again in Málaga, and the following year, 2000, he captured the European Championship title.
The competition featured precision and machine-handling challenges on a total of eight different types of earthmoving equipment. Each task was scored, and the highest overall points determined the winner. In addition, individual machine awards were given for the best performance in each task. Jantunen recalls that operating the bulldozer was the toughest challenge.
“The task was to push a pit into clay soil, which was then measured. I hadn’t driven that type of machine very much, so it was hard to get the pit perfectly shaped,” he explains.
Despite that, success came naturally. After his victory, Jantunen was invited to take part in a slightly different project: together with colleagues, he operated Caterpillar machines for the world-famous James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.
“I was at the controls of a skid steer loader, and the scene appears in the movie for about three seconds,” he laughs.
Focus on Your Own Performance
The Finnish qualifier of the Global Operator Challenge—still held today—took place at the end of April during the Mansen Mörinät event in Pirkanmaa. This year, young operator Jeremias Järvilä from Kokkola claimed the win. For Järvilä, who is heading to the semifinals in Málaga, Jantunen offers a seasoned tip:
“You just have to stay focused. If there are as many people in the crowd as there were back then, the audience can really dazzle you. Gather your thoughts and keep your eyes on what you’re doing,” he sums up.
Caterpillar’s regional representatives organize national qualifying rounds in every participating country, sending the winners to Málaga to compete for the European championship. The continent’s top operators then face off in an even tougher final in Las Vegas in the spring of 2026.
Finnish competitors have consistently performed well. “The strength of Finnish operators is their seriousness and calm approach. If you avoid rushing and deliver a steady, solid performance, you can win. You don’t have to be number one on every machine,” he points out.
Who Will Claim the World’s Top Operator Crown This Time?
—
Jeremias Järvilä will represent Finland this October in the European semifinals of Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge in Málaga. Read the full story here.
Join the excitement and follow the thrilling competition tasks on Avesco’s Facebook channel!