KMS Racing’s Luhtaniemi scored a podium on his return – SM3 drivers with valuable experience
KMS Racing crews competed in the weekend’s Arctic Lapland Rally with good results. Jani Luhtaniemi scored a FRC2 category podium after a two-year hiatus, and FRC3 driver Daniel Poláśek and Joonas Ojala made decent debuts on the snowy stages of Lapland.
Making his four-wheel-drive debut in FRC2 category, Jani Luhtaniemi scored a podium on his return to rallying. The new category and car were a solid match for Luhtaniemi, and the 26-year-old didn’t hold back after the start.
-I’m relieved. The rally was challenging for us since the start. A big thank you to the KMS service crew and our supporters for making it possible to drive here, Luhtaniemi commented at the finish.
Making his snow debut this weekend, 23-year-old Czech driver Daniel Poláśek drove a solid day on Friday finishing sixth in category by the night’s service. Poláśek continued his ever improving pace on Saturday morning, but was forced to retire after running into a snowbank in SS9 – Heinunkierto.
-It’s a shame this happened, but it’s motorsport. I was a bit too optimistic with my pace notes. Our pace kept improving throughout the rally, and we’re already expecting the next round in Kuopio. Arctic rally was an awesome experience nevertheless! Polasek said.
Making his debut in Rally4-category, 16-year-old Joonas Ojala drove a clean Friday finishing the day seventh in FRC3 category. A steady and sure pace elevated the young Finn into fourth in category at the finish.
KMS Racing team principal Jussi Kumpumäki reflected his team’s opening rally of 2023:
-A great achievement from Jani. Third place in a highly contested category after almost 2,5 years hiatus of driving from notes. Daniel’s DNF was unfortunate, but these things happen once you start to find your pace and we’re here to learn. Joonas scored some solid points and finishing a long rally such as this is a good way to get competitive kilometres before the next round in Kuopio.
KMS Racing continues its season in Kuopio in three weeks time. The international team also attends another event on the other side of Gulf of Finland, as Otepää Rally is held on the same weekend.
-We’ll continue in Kuopio with Joonas and Daniel. We are also competing in Otepää Rally in Estonia the same weekend, so it’s going to be a busy one, Kumpumäki says.
Arctic Lapland Rally FRC2-category results:
|
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:
|
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
|
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 |
SS6 – Siikakämä – 26,15 km
|
1. |
Benjamin Korhola |
12:38,4 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Henri Hokkala |
12:39,0 |
+0,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Ville Ruokanen |
12:47,2 |
+8,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Toni Herranen |
12:48,5 |
+10,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
13:04,2 |
+25,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS7 – Aittajärvi – 22,69 km
|
1. |
Benhamin Korhola |
11:27,0 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Ville Ruokanen |
11:36,5 |
+9,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Toni Herranen |
11:45,2 |
+18,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
11:46,1 |
+19,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Eamonn Kelly |
11:57,6 |
+30,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
IRE |
SS8 – Ounasvaara – 1,65 km
|
1. |
Ville Ruokanen |
1:50,8 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
1:51,6 |
+0,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Henri Hokkala |
1:52,5 |
+1,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Henri Timonen |
1:52,8 |
+2,0 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Toni Herranen |
1:53,5 |
+2,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS9 – Heinunkierto – 25,00 km
|
1. |
Benjamin Korhola |
14:09,2 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Toni Herranen |
14:13,4 |
+4,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Ville Ruokanen |
14:14,9 |
+5,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
14:22,8 |
+13,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Henri Timonen |
14:45,0 |
+35,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS10 – Sarriojärvi – 33,18 km
|
1. |
Benjamin Korhola |
19:19,5 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Henri Hokkala |
19:33,8 |
+14,3 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Toni Herranen |
19:38,6 |
+19,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
19:45,4 |
+25,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Ville Ruokanen |
19:45,8 |
+26,3 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
SS 11 – Ristilampi – 31,51 km
|
1. |
Toni Herranen |
16:05,6 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Benjamin Korhola |
16:07,5 |
+1,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
3. |
Henri Hokkala |
16:16,0 |
+10,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Ville Ruokanen |
16:28,2 |
+22,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally3 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Jani Luhtaniemi |
16:33,8 |
+28,2 |
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 |
SS5 – Mäntyvaara 2 – 3,50 km
|
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 |
SS6 – Siikakämä – 26,15 km
|
1. |
Leevi Lassila |
13:07,0 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Nao Otake |
13:30,5 |
+23,5 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
3. |
Jooa Iivari |
13:32,4 |
+25,4 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Justus Räikkönen |
13:35,0 |
+28,0 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Niko Patajoki |
13:40,8 |
+33,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
8. |
Daniel Poláśek |
14:04,1 |
+57,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
12. |
Joonas Ojala |
17:55,5 |
+4:48,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS7 – Aittajärvi – 22,69 km
|
1. |
Leevi Lassila |
12:16,3 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Yuki Yamamoto |
12:22,8 |
+6,2 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
3. |
Nao Otake |
12:31,3 |
+15,0 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
4. |
Justus Räikkönen |
12:35,1 |
+18,8 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Niko Patajoki |
12:37,1 |
+20,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
7. |
Daniel Poláśek |
12:42,0 |
+25,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
8. |
Joonas Ojala |
13:02,9 |
+46,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS8 – Ounasvaara – 1,65 km
|
1. |
Nao Otake |
2:00,5 |
|
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
2. |
Hikaru Kogure |
2:03,3 |
+2,8 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
3. |
Leevi Lassila |
2:03,6 |
+3,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Justus Räikkönen |
2:03,8 |
+3,3 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Mille Johansson |
2:04,1 |
+3,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
SWE |
|
6. |
Daniel Poláśek |
2:04,7 |
+4,2 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
CZE |
|
9. |
Joonas Ojala |
2:09,6 |
+9,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS9 – Heinunkierto – 25,00 km
|
1. |
Leevi Lassila |
15:05,7 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Mille Johansson |
15:08,3 |
+2,6 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
SWE |
|
3. |
Yuki Yamamoto |
15:21,6 |
+15,9 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
4. |
Justus Räikkönen |
15:24,3 |
+18,6 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Nao Otake |
15:39,3 |
+33,6 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
7. |
Joonas Ojala |
15:45,5 |
+39,8 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS10 – Sarriojärvi – 33,18 km
|
1. |
Leevi Lassila |
20:44,9 |
|
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
2. |
Yuki Yamamoto |
21:00,3 |
+15,4 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
3. |
Justus Räikkönen |
21:09,3 |
+24,4 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Niko Pajajoki |
21:33,4 |
+48,5 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Joonas Ojala |
21:54,8 |
+1:09,9 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
SS11 – Ristilampi – 31,51 km
|
1. |
Yuki Yamamoto |
17:09,7 |
|
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
2. |
Hikaru Kogure |
17:24,9 |
+15,2 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
3. |
Niko Patajoki |
17:28,8 |
+19,1 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN |
|
4. |
Justus Räikkönen |
17:46,2 |
+36,5 |
Peugeot 208 Rally4 |
FIN |
|
5. |
Nao Otake |
17:47,3 |
+37,6 |
Renault Clio Rally4 |
JPN |
|
6. |
Joonas Ojala |
17:47,4 |
+37,7 |
Ford Fiesta Rally4 |
FIN
|
Photo: Merita Mäkinen
