KMS Racing’s Polasek on podium – Valkonen suffered misfortune

21.05.2023 / KMS Racing Press

The Finnish racing dream KMS Racing has finished third in FRC3 category with Daniel Polasek taking his career-first podium in the Finnish championship. Meanwile leading the category for a duration of the event, Nico Valkonen suffered a puncture was dropped down in order.

M-Sport Official Partner in Finland, KMS Racing, competed with a three-car line-up in the fourth event in the Finnish Rally Championship calendar, SM Pohjanmaa Ralli.

In the FRC3, the Czech youngster Daniel Polasek and his co-driver Katerina Janovska drove a clean rally without major errors and finished superbly on the podium. The sure and steady strategy worked well in the finish, netting Polasek his first podium on Finnish soil.

-It was a tough rally. We gained a lot of new experience. Now we can see that it was about driving a clean rally without mistakes. Finishing P3 here in Finland is a great feeling, Polasek said.

Leading the category for the first half of the rally, Nico Valkonen was on his way for a second win in a row until a faithful puncture on the fourth stage, dropping the Finn away from the lead. Finally, Valkonen and his co-driver Hannu Lamminen finished eight in class. Despite the puncture, the Finn won six out of the eight stages in the rally.

-We suffered a puncture which ruined our rally. Our pace and the way of driving were good however, Valkonen said.

In the FRC2 category Ville Laakso drove a solid rally whilst collecting kilometres for the main event of the season, Secto Rally Finland. Driving his first gravel rally with a four-wheel-drive car, Laakso was happy in the finish.

-I’m feeling great! I enjoyed every kilometre today. A big thanks to Jani Luhtaniemi for hopping next to me, it was a good learning course for gravel driving, Laakso said.

KMS Racing Team Principal Jussi Kumpumäki saw SM Pohjanmaa Rally as a positive development for all of the drivers.

-It was a positive event. It’s nice to see Ville’s improvement, and the same with Daniel of course. There is some consistency to be achieved in stage times, but now he has shown that there is speed, especially once we’ll get him accustomed to the fast Finnish stages. Nico also showed his speed. The puncture was unfortunate and ruined his chances. A big thanks for the team for the weekend! Kumpumäki thanked.

Overall results FRC2:

Overall results FRC3:

Photo: Merita Mäkinen