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Juha Salo leading overall and in SM(FRC)2, Janne Tuohino leading in SM(FRC)1 at the end of day one

24.01.2014 / Juha Salo leading overall and in SM(FRC)2, Janne Tuohino leading in SM(FRC)1 at the end of day one

sm1_ss4_jannetuohino.jpg - pienennettyThe Finnish Rally Championship kicked off today with Arctic Lapland Rally in Rovaniemi. Five stages were completed on Lapland´s roads lined with snow banks with the temperature dropping from minus 10 to 20 Celsius towards the evening. The dry frost caused the snow to dust and hamper visibility, which became the topic of the day.
The fastest was Juha Salo, the eight-times Finnish champion from Karkkila. He´s competing in SM(FRC)2. Salo started first on the road and thus avoided the dusting snow the whole day. Salo (Mitsubishi) now has a solid, almost three-minute lead in his class over Joni Nikko (Mitsubishi), who is second. Third in SM(FRC)2 is Esa Ruotsalainen (Mitsubishi) from Saarijärvi. He is currently 4:08.9 behind Salo. Salo was, with reason, very happy with his day: ´Despite the snow dust, which is nasty especially on the racecourse, the conditions are very good, and the car is running well, too. Of course it´s a bit easier when you are first on the road and you don´t have to struggle with the dust. The permission to use race fuel has really made a difference for this car. After a long time it is really great to race!
In SM(FRC)1, Janne Tuohino (Ford) from Kiiminki is holding the lead. He is 37 seconds behind the overall leader Juha Salo. Tuohino finished the day with a 46.4 seconds lead over Jarkko Nikara (Mitsubishi) from Saarijärvi. Third in SM(FRC)1 after five stages is Riku Tahko (Mini) from Porvoo 1:15.1 behind Tuohino. Ari Vihavainen, the 2013 FRC silver medalist, was also fast on the first stages but had to retire from fourth place after SS2 due to a technical problem.
Despite his lead in his class, Janne Tuohino felt a bit rusty after a few years´ break from racing:
´Obviously, I don´t have the routine, and the car would let me be faster. The driver is still a bit rusty. The car suits me better than a Super2000. We were lucky because Vihavainen retired. We got a longer gap to the car running in front of us, and the dusting snow bothered us less´ Tuohino commented at the finish of the last stage today.
Photos free for publishing:http://www.rallism.fi/kuvagalleria/2014/arcticlaplandrally242512014/default.html
Photos by Toni Ollikainen
SM(FRC)1 and SM(FRC)2 results after SS5/10
SM(FRC)1 or Super4:
1) Janne Tuohino-Markku Tuohino, KR-Team ry, Ford Fiesta R5, 52:46,9
2) Jarkko Nikara, SaaUA-Timo Hantunen, JyvUA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FinR4wd, +46,4
3) Riku Tahko PoSUA-Jan Lönegren, TerUA, Mini John Cooper Works S2000, +1:51,1
4) Jussi Tiippana, MikUA-Henri Arpiainen, MikUA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FinR4wd +2:02,0
5) Jussi Vainionpää, OUA-Mika Juntunen KajUA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FinR4wd +3:19,9
6) Mattias Therman, RoiUA-Risto Pietiläinen, FCDA, Ford Fiesta S2000 +3:25,0
SM(FRC)2 or Production4
1) Juha Salo, KaUA -Marko Salminen, NoorUA/MK, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4 52:09,9
2) Joni Nikko, LaihUA-Jarno Ottman, EspooUA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FinN4wd, +2:53,7
3) Esa Ruotsalainen, SaaUA-Enni Mälkönen, LamUA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FinN4wd, +4:08,9
4) Kaspar Koitla, KaUA-Mait Laidvee, TerUA, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FinN4wd, +4:44,1

Pisteet top 5

1. Roope Korhonen / Anssi Viinikka 70 pistettä LMM (Rally2)
2. Benjamin Korhola / Sebastian Virtanen 46 pistettä VihUA (Rally2)
3. Teemu Asunmaa / Ville Mannisenmäki 43 pistettä AlavUA (Rally2)
4. Anssi Rytkönen / Mikael Korhonen 36 pistettä KoMoKe (R5)
5. Mikko Heikkilä / Kristian Temonen 34 pistettä MäntsMK (Rally2)

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Kalenteri 2024

1) 12.-13.1. SM Auto Sorsa Riihimäki-Ralli, Riihimäki
2) 1.-3.2. 59. Arctic Lapland Rally, Rovaniemi
3) 8.-9.3. SM Tuuri Ralli, Alavus
4) 24.-25.5. SM Mad-Croc Länsirannikon Ralli, Turku
5) 14.-15.6. SM Pohjanmaa Ralli, Seinäjoki
6) 23.-24.8. SM Ralli Lahti, Lahti
7) 4.-5.10. SM Ralli Kitee, Kitee

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