Quote Originally Posted by Allez Andruet View Post
As AnttiK7 wrote earlier, that turbo fiasco sent Sainz to Ford. What it also meant, was that Vatanen was left without a seat. It's another thing I need to check somewhere, but I think there were stories in Finnish press at the time, that Vatanen already had a contract with Ford for 1996, but that ofcourse never materialized for obvious reasons.

1996 was a very Finnish-friendly season, as Monte Carlo and Corsica were rotated to W2L events, leaving Catalunya as the only real tarmac event.
Ah yes indeed, I remember Vatanen talking during the sad 1995 1000 Lakes how he really wants to have a full season drive for 1996 and how the calendar is like tailor made for a Finnish rally driver. Would be interesting to know more about how that thing went exactly.

The highlight of the late 90s Vatanen for me is definitely his two drives to replace Bruno Thiry at Ford in 1998. Would have been second in the Safari but he gifted that for Kankkunen. Then 5th in Portugal in a completely different event. On the second day in Portugal I remember him punching the air in delight after setting the second fastest time on one stage, matching all the youngsters in pure speed. But while doing that he was at the same time talking to himself in the way of "ok Ari, calm down, calm down, don't drive any faster than this."