Tight battles in Lapua
Sebastian Lindholm fastest in Lapua
Todays Finnish Rally Championship in Lapua was most exciting. Tight battles were run in all classes and there were both surprices and disappintments, as rallying is at its best!
The rally route was 214 km in total, and 94 km of that was special stages.
In class grA, over 2-litres Juuso Pykälistö (Toyota Corolla WRC) was very strong in the mornign. He took 10 seconds lead from the first stage on, as Sebastian Lindholm (Peugeot 206 WRC) had problems with clutch and Jouni Ampuja (Ford Focus WRC) spun in a junction.
Sebastian Lindholm hade even more troubles to come: - At the third stage I wasn't able to use the fourth gear at all and that went on during the fourth stage as well, told Lindholm.
Pykälistö did really well untill he went out at the fifth stage. - As I started brakeing the car just left to a wild spin and we were out, he told. He was suspecting that the brake disc split and the rear wheel jammed.
The battel of the victory was tight after Pykälistös retirement: Ampuja was only 5,3 seconds behind Lindholm before the last stage. Ampuja was faster on that one, but not enough: Lindholm won the rally with only 3,9 seconds.
Stage winners, class A, over 2-litres
SS 1, Juuso Pykälistö, Toyota Corolla WRC
SS 2, Juuso Pykälistö
SS 3, Jouni Ampuja, Ford Focus WRC
SS 4, Jouni Ampuja
SS 5, Sebastian Lindholm
SS 6, Jouni Ampuja
Leader: SS1-SS4: Juuso Pykälistö, SS5-SS6: Sebastian Lindholm
Finnish Championship standings
1. Jouni Ampuja, 30
2. Sebastian Lindholm, 25
3. Jarmo Mikkonen, 24,5
Jari Ketomaa won the gr N, over 2-litres class after a very interesting day with Jukka Ketomäki, who was driving on his "home ground". Ketomaa was faster after the six stages, but only with 1,1 seconds.
Class gr A, up to 2-litres winner was Janne Vähämiko with VW
Golf Gti and gr N, up to 2-litres winner was Marko Nieminen with
Honda Integra Type R.
