Finnish rallying championship news

[Hartusvuori]

Hi Finns !
Does someone know if there are still WRC cars running in some small finnish events ? and if yes, where can I find the classifications and entry lists of these races ?

The Mini WRC used by Riku Tahko in NORF 2012 was run by Jyrki Piira-Mikko Pajunen (yes, Pajunen as co-driver) in FRC Merikarvia in August. They went off in second or third stage. In last year's FRC I remember there was one Escort WRC. Fiesta WRC was supposed to make its international competition debut in Arctic Rally 2011, but that did not happen after Latvala crashed it in Sweden few days before Arctic.

For next year, every FRC event will have class for current WRCs, but no chance of any entries, since Rally Estonia will do the trick for testing for NORF. Also, there's a proposition that for next seasons 4WD championship, you can attend with a WRC car with homologation before the end of 2002. I don't know for a fact, but I guess there could be one or few 206 WRCs, Octavia WRCs and Corolla WRCs available. However, will the historics run - or win! - I guess, hardly.

[Hartusvuori]

F-Cup season 2012 ended last Saturday in Tahko-ralli. Before the last start three drivers had a theoretical chance to take the title: Toni Kuhanen, Timo Jaakonsaari and Jere Rekola. First Rekola retired for technical problem, then Jaakonsaari rolled and retired. At the time he was second in the rally and had a hold on the championship. So, that left only Kuhanen, the points-leader left. However, Kuhanen also retired for techical problem. So, Kuhanen is the new F-Cup champion, Jaakonsaari second, and Matti Nikander climbed to take the third place in the series.

Here you can find pictures from Jaakonsaari's roll. Also Krister Sjölund, who rolled heavily on the previous event in Pohjanmaa-ralli, started here with his spare car, Corolla GT, and rolled that too at the same place as Jaakonsaari. Now he has two cars to fix...
nikop.kuvat.fi

Here's an incar from SS5 from Jaakonsaari's roll:
F-Cup 2012 Nilsiä - Näin kaatui Jaakonsaaren mestaruushaaveet, incar EK5 - YouTube

Some bloody fast stages! Many drivers have complained that it was too much of top speed driving which also resulted in many techical problems.

Here's some average speeds:
SS1 (9,71 km) - Timo Salminen, Volvo 240 - 129.9 km/h
SS2 (9.47 km) - Timo Jaakonsaari, VW Golf - 127.5 km/h
SS3 (14.62 km) - Timo Salminen, Volvo 240 - 117.48 km/h
SS4 (6.62 km) - Marko Kallio, BMW M3, 136.18 km/h
SS5 (20,80 km) - Timo Salminen, Volvo 240, 137.65 km/h
SS6 (9.47 km) - Marko Kallio, BMW M3, 123.08 km/h
SS7 (14.62 km) - Kimmo Kärki, BMW M3, 117.74 km/h

That leaves for the winner of the rally Timo Salminen an average speed of 125.25 km/h. For Group F machinery that is a lot - even too much. Also remember, no pacenotes.

Here's another onboard from Mikko Ala-Talkkari (Starlet) from SS7, a slow stage in this comparison. Count how many time he changes gear for first part of the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxVoTH2gy50

[rp]

He is Tero Salminen, not Timo...

F-Cup Final standings:
Yleinen 2012 | F-Cup - F-Cup rallisarjan virallinen sivusto

Tahkoralli´s results:
Tahkoralli******************** FC-yleinen

[Hartusvuori]

He is Tero Salminen, not Timo...

True. My brainfart.

[OldF]

The classes for FRC 2013 have been published yesterday.

Sarja (only in Finnish so far)

FRC1 4WD:
FIA N4 with national exceptions (restrictor size)
FIA R4 with national exceptions (restrictor size)
R5
Super 2000 Rally
FIN R 4WD
WRC-cars homologated pre 1.1.2003

FRC Super2:
FIA R3
FIN R 2WD
Group N <2000 cm3
Super 1600
Group N and A TDi 2WD

FRC3 2WD-R:
FIA R1 and R2 < 1600 cm3

Here it’s said that it’s possible to compete also with an earth gas car in FRC 2013.

There was a proposal for N4 to have a 35 mm restrictor and R4 having a 34 mm restrictor but about that we know more next Monday.

AKK Motorsport - Rallin sarjatyöryhmän kokous 27.9. (Only in Finnish)

[Hartusvuori]

Here it’s said that it’s possible to compete also with an earth gas car in FRC 2013.

CNG, compressed natural gas, that is.

Here's also the calendar:

25.-26.1. Arctic Lapland Rally, Rovaniemen UA - snow
22.-23.2. SM Vaakuna Ralli, Mikkelin UA - snow
9.3. Itäralli, Joensuun UA - snow
15.6. Pohjanmaa SM-Ralli, Laihia, Pohjanmaa Ralli ry - gravel
13.7. SM O.K. Auto-ralli, Kouvolan Seudun Autourheilijat - gravel
30.-31.8. Turku SM-Ralli, Turun UA - gravel
27.-28.9. SM Ralli Tampere, Tampereen UA - gravel

Joensuu makes a comeback, Laihia is a new one, so are Tampere and Turku too.

[OldF]

OK, I made a direct translation from maakaasu.

[Susiraja]

FRC Super2:
FIA R3
FIN R 2WD
Group N <2000 cm3
Super 1600
Group N and A TDi 2WD

I'm afraid that there won't be the minimum 10 participants in the Super2 class. That would mean there would be two official championship classes like this year.

[Juha_Koo]

Good that finally there's two big cities (Turku & Tampere) hosting FRC-events... Someone might even come to see ceremonial start and podium. :-P

Juha Salo will continue in FRC with the same car (EvoX R4) and codriver. Joonas Lindroos doesn't know anything for 100% yet. This year's Finnish Junior Rally Champion Olli Lahti will step up to FRC, using ex-Lappi C2.

[pantealex]

Latest what I have heard:
-Joonas Lindroos Arctic Rally with 4wd car
-Jari Ketomaa is back with old Subaru (first 5-door model 2010?)
-there is still 3x S2000 Fiesta in printsport garage, so who will drive Even-rallys car? E-P Lappi can´t drive it because he is Skoda factory driver now
-Juha Salo is member of Hannu´s Rally Team in teams championship next year, no more Rallifart Finland.