Ounipohja record

**andyone** · 19th October 2014, 20:23

Hallo my fellow rally funs, i need some help. Who holds the stage record for ounimpojah wrc finland? Thanks

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Sorry for the typo in re-diecting this thread from Rally Spain -MM

**Rallyper** · 19th October 2014, 21:18

Ogier 2013 15min 08,9 secs (33,01 km)

**Hartusvuori** · 19th October 2014, 22:20

To begin with, there's nothing like Ouninpohja, but also there's no one Ouninpohja.

Per is correct in one sense. Ogier set the highest average speed on SS Ouninpohja in 2013 (in its second run) when it was used in form most known for modern era. This means it starts from Hämepohja and runs on Ouninpohjantie and Okskulmantie towards Kakaristo and then the last ten kilometres on smaller roads. In 2013 the lenght of the stage was 33,01 kilometres.

However, I believe the fastest average speed on stage called Ouninpohja was set by Marcus Grönholm in 2002. That year they ran the stage twice, first run being 34,13 kms and the second run 25,22 kms, finish soon after Kakaristo. On that second run which consisted the bigger roads of the stage Grönholm averaged on 132,2 kms.

Ouninpohja has been run in numerous versions, using the main parts of the stage (Ouninpohjantie and Okskulmantie) in both directions as well as combining other smaller roads to the stage as was the case this year for example. Stage names has varied too, Kakaristo being known at the moment, but also older stages like Rapsula, Konivuori and Hassi has used parts of the legendary Ouninpohja.

Ouninpohja is worth a book, so many times has the rally been decided there, for example 2003 when Grönholm lost a wheel. Other notable names to have bad luck in Ouninpohja are Petter Solberg (crash, 2006), Tommi Mäkinen (crash, 1999), Toni Gardemeister and Dani Sordo (hit the same rock, 2001 and 2006). In 2008 when the stage was run as Kakaristo, Gigi Galli, P-G Andersson and Juha Salo all crashed in same place!

Ouninpohja is known for its numerous jumps. I once tried to count "jumps" and "over crests" from Solberg-Mills well-known 2003 run. It was over 50 jumps and over 150 over crests! The best known jump is of course the Yellow House jump. By the way, had the stage been run this year in its normal form, organisers would've had a hard morning by the Yellow House jump. This is how it looked there during the rally after a storm had hit the area: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bt8CBMOIUAEcBpZ.jpg

Here's some average speed from Ouninpohja over the years (note the stage roads vary, direction vary, time of the day/night vary - roughly every 4th year to give an idea how the sport has developed)
1970 - Timo Mäkinen - Ford Escort TC - 99,2 km/h
1974 - Timo Mäkinen - Ford Escort RS - 108,9 km/h
1978 - Markku Alén - Fiat 131 Abarth - 114,4 km/h
1982 - Hannu Mikkola - Audi Quattro - 117,9 km/h
1985 - Hannu Mikkola - Audi Quattro Sport S1 - 127,3 km/h
1992 - Juha Kankkunen - Lancia Delta HF Integrale - 121,0 km/h
1996 - Juha Kankkunen - Toyota Celica GT-4 ST205 - 121,9 km/h
2000 - Juha Kankkunen - Subaru Impreza WRC S6 - 125,5 km/h
2002 - Marcus Gönholm - Peugeot 206 WRC - 132,3 km/h
2004 - Petter Solberg - Subaru Impreza WRC S10 - 130,3 km/h
2007 - Marcus Grönholm - Ford Focus WRC 07 - 129,2 km/h

I kind of love this strech of gravel road. Quite a lot, in fact.

**Sladden** · 24th October 2014, 14:48

Originally Posted by Hartusvuori

However, I believe the fastest average speed on stage called Ouninpohja was set by Marcus Grönholm in 2002. That year they ran the stage twice, first run being 34,13 kms and the second run 25,22 kms, finish soon after Kakaristo. On that second run which consisted the bigger roads of the stage Grönholm averaged on 132,2 kms.

Ouninpohja is worth a book, so many times has the rally been decided there, for example 2003 when Grönholm lost a wheel.

I recall that In 2003 Colin Mcrae took the stage record. But that Grönholm had much better splits until he lost the Wheel. I think he would have been Close to Petters 2004 record if not for that incident. But I dont think the split times exist online anymore!?

**Hartusvuori** · 24th October 2014, 22:33

Originally Posted by Sladden

I recall that In 2003 Colin Mcrae took the stage record. But that Grönholm had much better splits until he lost the Wheel. I think he would have been Close to Petters 2004 record if not for that incident. But I dont think the split times exist online anymore!?

McRae did the fastest time on Ouninpohja 2 in 2003, but his average speed was "only" 129,4 km/h. Maybe someone could recall did they use chicanes that year?