Pentti Airikkala
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| Pentti Airikkala | |
|---|---|
 Pentti Airikkala at the wheel of a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 in 1989, on his way to victory in the RAC Rally with co-driver Ronan McNamee. |
|
| World Rally Championship record | |
| Nationality |  Finnish |
| Active years | 1973–90, 2003 |
| Teams | Privateer, Vauxhall, Rothmans Ford, Mitsubishi Ralliart, Martini Lancia, Nissan, Q8 Team Ford |
| World rallies | 37 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podium finishes | 6 |
| Stage wins | 147 |
| Points | 102 |
| First world rally | 1973 1000 Lakes Rally |
| First win | 1989 Lombard RAC Rally |
| Last world rally | 2003 Wales Rally GB |
Pentti Airikkala (born Helsinki, Finland, September 4, 1945) was one of the 'Flying Finns' who have dominated world rallying for the past four decades.[1] His career was more sporadic than many of his contemporaries, and he competed in only three World Rally Championship (WRC) events regularly; the two Scandinavian rallies (the 1000 Lakes and the Swedish Rally) and the RAC Rally in the United Kingdom.
Most of his top flight competitive experience was behind the wheel of various rear wheel drive Vauxhall/Opels like the Chevette HS and Magnum coupé, but his greatest success came in the twilight of his career, when he exploited his local knowledge as a longtime UK resident to win the 1989 RAC Rally in a Group A Mitsubishi Galant VR-4.[2] He is still the third oldest driver to win a WRC event.
Altogether he competed in 36 WRC events between 1973 and 1990, and a 37th in 2003, scoring 102 points and achieving a best of 9th overall in the 1981 Drivers' Championship.[3]. He also contested the British Rally Championship in the '70s and '80s, becoming British Rally Champion in 1979.
Since retiring from full-time international competition Airikkala has operated a highly successful race driving school in Oxfordshire. His roster of pupils is a Who's Who of international rallying, including subsequent World Champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns.[4]
Contents |
[edit] WRC victories
| # | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  38th Lombard RAC Rally |
1989 | Ronan McNamee | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 |
[edit] Career WRC results
(podium positions highlighted in bold)
| Year | Event | Vehicle | Co-driver | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Opel Kadett Rallye | Heikki Haaksiala | retired |
| 1974 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Vauxhall Magnum Coupé | Heikki Haaksiala | 16th |
| 1975 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Vauxhall Magnum Coupé | Heikki Haaksiala | retired |
| RAC Rally | John Davenport | 20th | ||
| 1976 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Ford Escort RS1800 | Risto Virtanen | 2nd |
| RAC Rally | Mike Greasley | retired | ||
| 1977 | Swedish Rally | Toyota Celica 2000GT | Risto Virtanen | retired |
| 1000 Lakes Rally | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | retired | ||
| RAC Rally | 16th | |||
| 1978 | Swedish Rally | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | Risto Virtanen | retired |
| 1000 Lakes Rally | 3rd | |||
| RAC Rally | Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | Mike Nicholson | retired | |
| 1979 | Swedish Rally | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | Risto Virtanen | 3rd |
| Motogard Rally of New Zealand | GM Dealer Team New Zealand Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | Rodger Freeth | retired | |
| 1000 Lakes Rally | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | Risto Virtanen | retired | |
| RAC Rally | Dealer Team Vauxhall/Castrol Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | 7th | ||
| 1980 | Swedish Rally | Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR | Risto Virtanen | 6th |
| 1000 Lakes Rally | retired | |||
| Motogard Rally of New Zealand | Ford Escort RS | Chris Porter | retired | |
| RAC Rally | Dealer Team Vauxhall/Castrol Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS | Risto Virtanen | retired | |
| 1981 | Swedish Rally | Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 | Risto Virtanen | 3rd |
| 1000 Lakes Rally | 5th | |||
| RAC Rally | 4th | |||
| 1982 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Team Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo | Juha Piironen | 3rd |
| RAC Rally | retired | |||
| 1983 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 | Juha Piironen | 5th |
| 1984 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS | Seppo Harjanne | retired |
| 1985 | RAC Rally | British Telecom Mobile Phone Div Vauxhall Astra GT/E | Ronan McNamee | retired |
| 1986 | RAC Rally | GM Dealersport Vauxhall Astra GT/E | Ronan McNamee | 16th |
| 1987 | RAC Rally | GM Dealersport Opel Kadett GSI | Ronan McNamee | retired |
| 1988 | RAC Rally | Safety Devices Lancia Delta Integrale | Ronan McNamee | 4th |
| 1989 | RAC Rally | Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 | Ronan McNamee | 1st |
| 1990 | 1000 Lakes Rally | Q8 Team Ford Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4 | Ronan McNamee | retired |
| Rallye Sanremo | 11th | |||
| RAC Rally | retired | |||
| 2003 | Wales Rally GB | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI | Nigel Gardner | retired |
[edit] References
- ^ Pentti Airikkala, 'Flying Finns' website
- ^ 38th Lombard RAC Rally, Final classification, Rallybase.nl website
- ^ 1981 World Rally Championship for Drivers, Final classification, Rallybase.nl
- ^ Pentti's Champion Pupils, leftfootbraking.com
