Finnish rallying championship news

[Rallyper]

That driving is what only real men can do. No wonder Finland brought so many fast rallydrivers having those fast roads...

[Hartusvuori]

Some interesting 360 degree rally photos from FRC Joensuu by Bruno Keiser:

The Wednesday-Picture(s) #15: A TOTALLY NEW VIEW ON RALLY! | Bruno's Blog

[Hartusvuori]

Winter season in Finland is officially over, last rally was week ago and next one will be in mid May, but there's still some club events and test runs organised as winter weather is now at its best. This part of the country at least had some 40 cm of fresh snow 10 days ago and it've been well below -10 celcius during the nights.

So, here's some videos from Saturday at FRC driver Joni Nikko's "own stage". Variety of drivers and cars there. The onboard is from Jari-Matti Tiilikka, a JFRC regular, whose driving style with MkII Escort is flamboyant and spectacular to say the least. There's also nice variety in the road (2 loops). The other video is linked at the spot that show Tiilikka's style from outside the car. See the second run...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH-Wc...ature=youtu.be

Spectators' view: 2.JÄÄRATA-AJOT LAIHIALLA - YouTube

[Hartusvuori]

After having a couple of years on sabbatical from rallying, Kosti Katajamäki is planning a return. He has entered FRC with Printsport's Fiesta S2000.

Katajamäki is best remember from mid 00s, he drove a handful of events in Focus WRC in 2006, being fifth overall in Turkey that year. He also did JWRC earlier. His last season in FRC was 2010 when he finished 2nd.

[Hartusvuori]

Wakey, wakey, rallying season in Finland is starting give its first signs of life for the spring and much anticipated gravel roads.

First gravel event is a national rally Black Rocket Rally that'll be held this Saturday. Exactly 200 entries: http://www.mut-palvelu.fi/2013/ralli...sanottajat.pdf Few interesting names there from F-Cup like Tero Salminen and Olli Lavikainen. Also, Jari-Matti Tiilikka from the above-mentioned video is in the list. I do always like to see him drive the MkII. The event is five stages in the area of Janakkala/Turenki and nearby, some roads must be very well-used, one stage being also used in NORF 2011.

The week after junior rally championship and ladies cup continues in Joutsa (near Jyväskylä and old 1000 Lakes stages) with Ovisepät Ralli. Last year the event was won by EP Lappi, this year it've attracted a few of the FRC regulars too as it's an event drivers can recce. I'd say Joni Nikko could very well be the fastest of the lot in 4WD. The rising start Teemu Asunmaa could be a name to watch too. On 2WD there could be a battle for the victory as some of the top FRC 2WD drivers are on the entry list, Mänty (Civic), Kinnunen (208 R2) and Vainionpää (Civic) to name the first three that comes to mind. 148 entries here if the link works.

FRC continues with Pohjanmaa-ralli in Laihia (west coast) on June 15th. Not much entries for that rally yet, but rumour about Kosti Katajamäki's one-off comeback are still alive. What makes this event interesting at least for the spectators in the stages is the fact that 2WD FRC classes will run in front of 4WD. Don't ask me why, but it can be nice change, why not.

On the last weekend of June we have a rally with a classic name, 1000 Lakes in Jyväskylä, stages north-northwest of the classic rally city. It's a 5 stage national event, but a very nice one. Loved it last year, even if it was so dusty that the thousand lakes nearby came well in need.

If all goes well, I'll attend all four events. I need to, to be honest.

[Rallyper]

So how did it go? Any pics, vids??

[Hartusvuori]

Per, thanks for asking, it went well! It was obvious that the first gravel rally of the year and held so South would gather a nice number of spectators and drivers, and so it did. Weather-wise it was also good, perhaps a little rain would've been needed as it was rather dusty in the end.

We did two stages, first and last. In SS1 we were, like most other too, at blind right into left combination, with a ditch and field. One roll, one off and interestingly both were 4WDs. 4-5 other cars were on absolute limit there but managing to keep in piece. Very enjoyable place!

For SS5 there was few options and we chose wrong. We had nice, relaxed place towards the end with a steep downhill with a bumb in the middle, into long right. We saw few nice slides, but that's all. The place to be in the rally we missed, the first right-hander of SS5, only few hundred metres into the stages. Couple of rolls, couple of offs and many mishaps there. See from this incar how it looked for the crews and from this video how for spectators. (The first half of the video is from SS1, place I mentoned)

In the end the results doesn't really matter (out of ~185 crews that started, ~50 retired), but they are here: Mut-palvelu

Also, here are my friend's rather spectacular shots from the rally. Lots of sideways :-) Black Rocket Ralli 2013

Only one week of work and then on next Saturday back on stages at Ovisepät-ralli. I approve.

[Hartusvuori]

Sad news from Finland. A test run accident occured yesterday in Seinäjoki killing a man at a co-driver's seat. It was a human error where two cars started the same stage at the same time from both ends and crashed at a blind overcrest high speed, full frontal accident. Leaves me speechless.

Ralliautot yhteen mäennyppylällä - yksi kuoli, kaksi loukkaantui vakavasti | Poliisiuutiset | Uutiset | Ilkka

[wwbroe]

Sad news from Finland. A test run accident occured yesterday in Seinäjoki killing a man at a co-driver's seat. It was a human error where two cars started the same stage at the same time from both ends and crashed at a blind overcrest high speed, full frontal accident. Leaves me speechless.

Ralliautot yhteen mäennyppylällä - yksi kuoli, kaksi loukkaantui vakavasti | Poliisiuutiset | Uutiset | Ilkka

Hard to believe something like this can happen, but for sure very sad also.

[stefanvv]

sad news from finland. A test run accident occured yesterday in seinäjoki killing a man at a co-driver's seat. It was a human error where two cars started the same stage at the same time from both ends and crashed at a blind overcrest high speed, full frontal accident. Leaves me speechless.

ralliautot yhteen mäennyppylällä - yksi kuoli, kaksi loukkaantui vakavasti | poliisiuutiset | uutiset | ilkka

omg, r.i.p.