Finnish rallying championship news

**Juha_Koo** · 29th Jun 12, 17:35

Great test onboard from Lappi on a small road...

Esapekka Incar - Printsport Pictures

**pantealex** · 2nd Jul 12, 15:14

Originally Posted by Hartusvuori

Mattias Therman entered next FRC event in Kouvola in Printsport-run Fiesta S2000.

It´s "new" car, so they have now 3 of them in Printsport garage.

**tolis** · 2nd Jul 12, 18:35

So, we expect him in NORF in a S2000 car this year?

**Hartusvuori** · 7th Jul 12, 19:01

The rally of the day had a nice ring to its name: 1000 Lakes Rally. It was of course a national event, some 50/50 historic and gr.F cars. It was also of course Jyväskylä-based and stages had roads familiar from the history of The 1000 Lakes.

Fastest - and pretty much most spectacular - was Veli-Matti Saarelainen in his Ascona. We remember Saarelainen for his victory in last years Lahti Historic ERC. F-Cup favourite Toni Kuhanen finished second.

We saw the first and last stage. Two offs and two spins on the first stage - and so much dust that I don't remember when I was that dirty the last time. Great day altogether.

**Allar** · 8th Jul 12, 15:48

where i can see Kouvola entrys?

**Racing Ka** · 8th Jul 12, 16:21

SM O.K.Auto-ralli******************* Kilpailuun hyvksytyt

**tolis** · 16th Jul 12, 00:40

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

Kaisanlahti had a really nasty off, went off and hit a tree stump, 100+ kph to 0 in less than a second, engine came into cabin etc.

Kaisanlahti's off: SM O.K. Auto-ralli, Kouvola 14.7.2012 - YouTube

**Xsara Fan** · 16th Jul 12, 11:04

Another video, another crashes... O.K. AUTO SM RALLI Kouvola 2012 - YouTube

**Juha_Koo** · 16th Jul 12, 11:22

FRC Kouvola was very eventful, lots of bad crashes and jumps. Not so nice to hear many times during the day that ambulance is on stage...

On SS3 there was a bad jump, first Korhonens went off (onboard: Kouvola Sm-ralli 2012 Jukka Korhonen big jump crash - YouTube ). There was somesort of a mixup with the warning, apparently such a bad one that no one warned Annala and therefore he came maximum to the jump, rolling over badly. Luckily the car took a bit different route as Korhonens and some spectators were still in the forest. Exterior video of the events: O.K. AUTO SM RALLI Kouvola 2012 - YouTube There was also ambulance needed when Juolahti had a bad jump and both crewmembers hurt their backs. I'm not 100% sure where this jump happened. Tolis posted the video of Kaisanlahti's very bad off. It was a "place" and for some reason he didn't lift at all. Everyone thought that the car will roll far, but a new big stump stopped the car badly. Luckily there shouldn't be any really serious injuries, but the car is destroyed, rollcage damaged, engine in the cabin.

SM1 top guys had a real fight, Lappi had engine problems for a while so Salo was able to challenge him. In the end, Lappi was able to get back the lost time and won. Salo second and Jussi Tiippana third. Tiippana told that this was his best ever FRC rally, for once without problems. Check out this crazy onboard of Salo/Salminen, maximum attack all the time on SS3 with a big moment in the end: Kouvola O.K AUTO SM-Ralli 2012, ss3, Juha Salo Evo X R4 - YouTube (Two more, SS2 & SS8, can be found from the same channel.)

In 2WD, SM2 it was pretty much average rally, Lindroos won as usual, Kinnunen second (he posted some really good stagetimes during the rally) and Hautamäki third. In SM3 Amberg had managed to overcome problems with the car seen in Lapua and now had a really good rally. He won, Evans was second (very promising performance by him, driving looked very good) and Kiviniemi third. Shame that Korhonen crashed.

I have a small video coming later today.

**dimviii** · 16th Jul 12, 12:50

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

moment in the end: Kouvola O.K AUTO SM-Ralli 2012, ss3, Juha Salo Evo X R4 - YouTube (Two more, SS2 & SS8, can be found from the same channel.

very big moment

what did they said after ss flying?

**Jeppe** · 16th Jul 12, 14:51

Originally Posted by dimviii

very big moment

what did they said after ss flying?

Something like this..
Co-driver: O-oh, It was almost a moment (laughing / making joke)
Driver: Holy sh*t, Took almost my breath away. Now our luck is used (for today)..

I could almost see that Juha´s hands were shaking after the finish line. Got to be one hell of a feeling after the stage.

**Juha_Koo** · 16th Jul 12, 14:53

Originally Posted by dimviii

very big moment

what did they said after ss flying?

JS: Ohhoh!
MS: We'll that was almost a moment...
JS: F*ck! Took oxygen really like a... Whuuh! (in Finnish rally slang "oxygen place" means a really tight place with a close call, therefore driver having to gasp air because of the tight situation

)
MS: Well now we have pretty much used all of our luck.

**Juha_Koo** · 16th Jul 12, 17:04

My video from Kouvola.

**cali** · 16th Jul 12, 19:59

I actually like another part when they cross the bridge and Salo says "Nyt osuu" (we are gonna hit the bridge), but the codriver does not even bother and just calmly continues with his pacenotes

Nice driving from Salo

**HarriK** · 16th Jul 12, 21:44

Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

My video from Kouvola.

Juha you got me in action!

**Fly** · 17th Jul 12, 07:33

VALOKUU.COM - Powered by photokorn

**Susiraja** · 17th Jul 12, 17:54

Our rally in Kouvola went well. First class win for me and Andreas in the smaller 2wd category. A rally report can be found from my blog Rally Co-driver: heinäkuu 2012
Some change to the normal faces were the foreign competitors. I spent some time chatting with Elfyn Evans and his co-driver. It was nice to get their thoughts about our local roads. Now only three weeks to go until Neste Oil Rally Finland. Never thought as a kid that I would also be able to participate there as a competitor.

**Juha_Koo** · 17th Jul 12, 19:18

Originally Posted by Susiraja

Our rally in Kouvola went well. First class win for me and Andreas in the smaller 2wd category. A rally report can be found from my blog Rally Co-driver: heinäkuu 2012
Some change to the normal faces were the foreign competitors. I spent some time chatting with Elfyn Evans and his co-driver. It was nice to get their thoughts about our local roads. Now only three weeks to go until Neste Oil Rally Finland. Never thought as a kid that I would also be able to participate there as a competitor.

By the way what was up with your name stickers in back windows in Kouvola? They were, well, personal...

**janvanvurpa** · 17th Jul 12, 19:46

Originally Posted by Susiraja

Our rally in Kouvola went well. First class win for me and Andreas in the smaller 2wd category. A rally report can be found from my blog Rally Co-driver: heinäkuu 2012
Some change to the normal faces were the foreign competitors. I spent some time chatting with Elfyn Evans and his co-driver. It was nice to get their thoughts about our local roads. Now only three weeks to go until Neste Oil Rally Finland. Never thought as a kid that I would also be able to participate there as a competitor.

Nåååå, what did he say about local roads, tell us! Inquiring minds want to know!

**Susiraja** · 18th Jul 12, 05:51

@ Juha_Koo:

Well we haven't had the co-driver's name in the car during the whole season. During the scrutineering our mechanics heard when the organizers gave feedback to some other crew about a missing name. So they quickly improvised the name, before it was our car's turn. 10 points for quick thinking for our guys

@ janvanvurpa: Not a great surprise, but they said the roads were really fast and challenging

It wasn't Elfyn's first time in Finland so he knew what to expect. He showed really good pace especially since his car was on WRC Academy settings.