Juuso Pykälistö fastest in Arctic Lapland Rally
Finnish Rally Championship, round 1
The first round of Finnish Rally Chamionship has been driven last weekend up north as part of the famous Arctic Lapland Rally. The Finnish organisers tested the new "super rally concept" during the event, as the two days of the event were driven as separate parts of the rally. There were also two separate championship points available of each day of the rally. Those who were forced to retire during the first day, were allowed to start again for day two.
The champion of2003 Sebastian Lindholm introduced his new car, Peugeot 206 WRC'03. His speed was good, but not quite enough for his rivals. Janne Tuohino, who is focusing his carreer in World Championship events, was also entered and he set the pace for the first day. Juuso Pykälistö, who returned to the championship after one years brake, entered the rally with a Toyota Corolla WRC and did a good job with the older car. Jouni Ampuja had updated his car, he entered with Ford Focus WRC and found good speed right away.
The fastes of day one was Tuohino, but as he was not entered to the Finnish Rally Championship so he was not fighting for the points. The second fastest Juuso Pykälistö collected the top points of the day. Tuohino started as the first car to the stages next day, but now Pykälistö started his attac. Pykälistö was fastes on the first stage, but also Lindholm woke up and hit the top time to next one. After these two stages Tuohino was still leading, but did not reach the service halt: - We had to retire bacause of fuel pump disfunction, he told.
The fight for the victory was now between Pykälistö and Lindholm, although the battle was soon over: Lindholm retired at the next stage because of problems of the running gear of the car. The closest to Pykälistö was now Ampuja, who was 42,1 seconds behind. Ampuja was able to win the next stage, but this was not enough. Pykälistö was pushing the limits of his Toyota Corolla and managed to beat Ampuja on the next two. At the last stage Ampuja was faster, but unable to claim the victory of the day. Pykälisö was crowned as the winner of the class with the traditional reindeer antlers of Arctic Lapland Rally.
Pykälistö scored the top points of both of the days and is now leading the Finnish Rally Championship with 24 points, Ampuja being second with 18 points. Ford Focus WRC driver Jarmo Mikkonen is third, 14,5 points and Lindholm is fourth with ten points.
Group N, over 2-litres was a tight battle of Mitsubishi driver Jukka Ketomäki and Subaru driver Jari Ketomaa. The battle was tight until the last stage of the first day, but then Ketomaa went out and lost five minutes. The champion of 2003 Hannu Hotanen was forced to retire after two stages because of technical failures. Last years silver medalist Juha Salo also had to retire because of transmission problems. Jukka Ketomäki took the top points of day one, but the fight started again on day two.
New face of the class, Jani Klemets was surpricingly fast as he won the first stage of the day two. Ketomaa and Ketomäki were taking turns in winning the following stages, but Ketomäki had lost too much time at the first stage of the day: - We went a bit wide and got snow in to the engine which caused it to misfire, he explained.
As a result of the new super rally concept both top drivers Hannu Hotanen and Juha Salo were allowed to start their rally again on the following day.They had to start as the last ones of the whole event, which lead them to problems with the retired vehicles, slower cars in front of them and very bad road conditions.
They still managed to fight for the top times of the stages. After two stages of the second day Hotanen was third and Salo seventh. On third stage of the day Hotanen had to drive behind slower competitor and lost time. Salo got as up as fourth but was again forced to retire: same problems as day one. Hotanen finished the day as seventh. The top points of the first event of Finnish Rally Championship went to Jukka Ketomäki, 22 points. Second best in total points was sensational youngster Jani Klemets with score of 14,5 and third Jari Ketomaa 12 points.
Janne Vähämiko won the both days of group A two litres -class. In group N, two litres the winner of day one was Marko Mänty but Jani Ylipahkala took the victory of day two.
Arctic Lapland Rally got again some interesting entries, as well known Formula 1 stars Mika Häkkinen, JJ Lehto and Keke Rosberg were testing their rallying speed.JJ Lehto is very strong behind the wheel of a rally car, and he is also entered to the FRC driving Gr N, over 2-litres. He drove really good times, but had to retire because of technical failure. Mika Häkkinen was driving a Toyota Corolla WRC and was seventh of the class. Keke Rosberg finished 13th of class Gr N, 2-litres.
Next Finnish Rally Championship event is Osuuspankki SM-ralli at
Lapua 21st February.
