KMS Racing drivers made positive debuts in the opening day of Arctic Lapland Rally
KMS Racing’s Ford Fiestas drove a clean and positive day on the opening day of the Finnish Rally Championship. Making his debut with four-wheel-drive car, Jani Luhtaniemi is running third in FRC2. In the FRC3 category, Daniel Poláśek’s snow debut and Joonas Ojala’s Rally4 debut were a positive sign of things to come.
KMS Racing drivers’ Arctic Lapland Rally opening day was positive. The three crews drove a clean day without any major errors.
Making his four-wheel-drive debut in the FRC2 category, Jani Luhtaniemi is third in category. Still learning the new car, Luhtaniemi’s pace was impressive on Friday, and the 26-year-old aims to increase pace going into second day.
-The day was good besides Kaihuavaara. We had to reverse a bit there and lost time, but otherwise a solid day. Tomorrow we’ll push a bit further. There are good roads on the schedule, so we’ll see how they go, Luhtamäki told after the opening day.
In the SM3 category KMS Racing youngsters drove a clean day. Driving on the snow the first time, 23-year-old Czech driver Daniel Poláśek performed well and drove a clean day being sixth in category by the time of the night break.
-We had an awesome day. We learned a lot of new things and experienced completely new types of stages. We’re happy we finished today, and tomorrow we want to finish the rally as well as improve on the fast corners, Poláśek smiled after the Friday’s stages.
Making his debut in Rally4, the 16-year-old Joonas Ojala drove a clean day as well finishing up in seventh place going into evening’s service break.
-The day started well on the first stage, our performance was clean and good. We made small errors on a few stages that costed us a lot of time however, Ojala said at the night’s service.
Arctic Lapland Rally continues tomorrow Saturday with six special stages and 140,18 special stage kilometres.
Arctic Lapland Rally FRC2-category results after 5/11 stages:
|
1. |
Benjamin Korhola |
48:12,4 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Henri Hokkala |
48:35,1 |
+22,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
48:48,5 |
+36,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Ville Ruokanen |
48:49,3 |
+36,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Toni Herranen |
50:16,5 |
+2:04,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
Arctic Lapland Rally FRC3-category results after 5/11 stages:
|
Tuomas Välilä |
51:48,6 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
|
2. |
Justus Räikkönen |
52:29,1 |
+40,5 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Jooa Iivari |
52:43,0 |
+54,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Nao Otake |
53:09,3 |
+1:20,7 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
5. |
Mille Johansson |
54:06,1 |
+2:17,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
SWE |
|
6. |
Daniel Poláśek |
55:06,7 |
+3:18,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
7. |
Joonas Ojala |
55:59,4 |
+4:10,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
Special Stage Results in FRC2:
SS1 – Jyrhämäjärvi – 28,99 km
|
1. |
Henri Hokkala |
13:23,7 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Benjamin Korhola |
13:30,3 |
+6,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Ville Ruokanen |
13:33,3 |
+9,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
13:34,5 |
+10,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Toni Herranen |
13:42,8 |
+19,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS2 – Mäntyvaara 1 – 3,50 km
|
1. |
Henri Hokkala |
2:47,6 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Ville Ruokanen |
2:48,1 |
+0,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Benjamin Korhola |
2:48,5 |
+0,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
2:53,0 |
+5,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Toni Herranen |
2:55,3 |
+7,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS3 – Kaihuavaara – 28,20 km
|
1. |
Benjamin Korhola |
15:35,4 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Ville Ruokanen |
15:45,0 |
+9,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
15:52,8 |
+17,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Henri Hokkala |
15:56,4 |
+21,0 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Eamonn Kelly |
16:41,3 |
+1:05,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
IRE |
SS4 – Kivalo-Siikakämä – 27,13 km
|
1. |
Henri Hokkalaa |
13:26,6 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Benjamin Korhola |
13:29,8 |
+3,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
13:37,4 |
+10,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Toni Herranen |
13:48,2 |
+21,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Ville Ruokanen |
13:49,9 |
+23,3 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS5 – Mäntyvaara 2 – 3,50 km
|
1. |
Benjamin Korhola |
2:48,4 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Henri Hokkala |
2:50,8 |
+2,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
2:50,8 |
+2,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Toni Herranen |
2:51,6 |
+3,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Ville Ruokanen |
2:53,0 |
+4,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
Special Stage Results in FRC3:
SS1 – Jyrhämäjärvi – 28,99 km
|
1. |
Tuomas Välilä |
14:02,4 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Jooa Iivari |
14:15,9 |
+13,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Yuki Yamamoto |
14:15,9 |
+13,5 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
4. |
Niko Patajoki |
14:22,7 |
+20,3 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Justus Räikkönen |
14:32,2 |
+29,8 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
6. |
Joonas Ojala |
14:33,3 |
+30,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
9. |
Daniel Poláśek |
14:51,1 |
+48,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
SS2 – Mäntyvaara 1 – 3,50 km
|
1. |
Jooa Iivari |
3:09,9 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Tuomas Välilä |
3:10,6 |
+0,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Justus Räikkönen |
3:13,4 |
+3,5 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Niko Patajoki |
3:14,0 |
+4,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Leevi Lassila |
3:17,8 |
+7,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
10. |
Daniel Poláśek |
3:20,2 |
+10,3 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
11. |
Joonas Ojala |
3:28,1 |
+18,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS3 – Kaihuavaara – 28,20 km
|
1. |
Tuomas Välilä |
16:47,6 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Justus Räikkönen |
17:02,8 |
+15,2 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Nao Otake |
17:09,2 |
+21,6 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
4. |
Jooa Iivari |
17:23,2 |
+35,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Mille Johansson |
17:47,4 |
+59,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
SWE |
|
6. |
Daniel Poláśek |
18:10,3 |
+1:22,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
7. |
Joonas Ojala |
18:13,5 |
+1:25,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS4 – Kivalo-Siikakämä – 27,13 km
|
1. |
Tuomas Välilä |
14:26,9 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Justus Räikkönen |
14:29,8 |
+2,9 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Nao Otake |
14:38,3 |
+11,4 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
4. |
Jooa Iivari |
14:43,9 |
+17,0 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Niko Patajoki |
15:00,7 |
+33,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
7. |
Daniel Poláśek |
15:23,8 |
+56,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
8. |
Joonas Ojala |
16:21,0 |
+1:54,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
1. |
Jooa Iivari |
3:10,1 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Justus Räikkönen |
3:10,9 |
+0,8 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Mille Johansson |
3:11,1 |
+1,0 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
SWE |
|
4. |
Niko Patajoki |
3:13,6 |
+3,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Nao Otake |
3:18,8 |
+8,7 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
7. |
Daniel Poláśek |
3:21,3 |
+11,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
8. |
Joonas Ojala |
3:23,5 |
+13,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN
|
Photo: Merita Mäkinen
