All Finnish Championship events granted NEAFP-status
The FIA has granted all Finnish Rally Championship events the
status of National Event with Authorised Foreign Participation. The
remaining rounds of the Championship are:
Osuuspankki SM Ralli, Lapua (Snow) 22.02.2003
SM Vaakuna-ralli, Mikkeli (Snow) 15.03.2003
SM Abloy-Itäralli, Joensuu (Gravel) 07.06.2003
SM Exide-ralli, Tampere (Gravel) 12.07.2003
SM Uusikaupunki-ralli, Uusikaupunki (Gravel)13.09.2003
SM Valvoline-ralli, Riihimäki (Gravel) 04.-05.10.2003
All events have a recce, with two (2) passes allowed for each
stage.
"We are hoping that by getting this status for the events, we will
attract European competitors to the championship that has produced
so many World-class drivers in its 45 year of exictance." Says
Jukka Aho, Rally executive of AKK-Motorsport. " And of course we
welcome any driver wanting to visit a single event in the
Championship"
In recent years the Championship has been won by such drivers as
Marcus Grönholm, Jani Paasonen, Mikko Hirvonen, Sebastian Lindholm,
and Janne Tuohino.