Photos by Markku Honkala
Not being a part of gr. A championship the 1000 Lakes Rally did not attract many of the big names to the gravel roads of central Finland this year. The rally was expected to be the great duel between Finland's own heroes Juha Kankkunen and Tommi Makinen. The duel, however, ended before it even began as Juha Kankkunen on the first special stage hit a stone and bent the left front wheel under the car. Kankkunen couldn't continue because no service was allowed after the stage.
After Kankkunen's incident there was no real competition for the win of the rally. Tommi Makinen as the only remaining works entry won almost all of the special stages. Far behind him came the national private´gr. A entries led by Marcus Gronholm.
Tommi Makinen had a trouble-free run with the Ralliart Mitsubishi
Lancer.
The Finnish rally fans didn't abandon their no 1 event even
though the world stars were missing. Juha Kankkunen going through here.
Kankkunen was allowed to continue as one of the zero-cars which drive through the route just before the competitors securing that the route is clear. This gave him a good chance to test the car for next years rally. Another zero-car was driven by Belgian Bruno Thiry, who was this way learning the much revised route of the 1000 Lakes, also for next year. On the morning of the 2nd day of the rally, Thiry was involved in a most unpleasant accident as he hit a spectator who was walking on the middle of the road. The young woman, who didn't presumably hear Thiry coming from behind, died immediately. Bruno Thiry was deeply shocked by the incident which was unavoidable from his part.
The hottest competition in the rally was in gr. F2, where World
Champinship points for manufacturers were at stake. In that category
the strong local Opel drivers Harri Rovanpera and Jarmo Kytolehto (in
the picture) were
challenged by top Swedish Opel driver Per Svan and Nissan's Alister
McRae. F2 was won by Kytolehto after Rovanpera had to retire on the last day.
Svan and McRae couldn't match the local knowledge of the Finns on the
hard and fast roads.
There has been speculation on the future status of the 1000 Lakes Rally.
As there is pressure to add one or two Asian events to the WRC
calendar it seems that there might not be room for the 1000 Lakes
anymore. But it is a traditional race which the drivers like and which is
extremely well organized and notihng is decided yet. I, for one, hope that
we'll see the greatest
drivers in the world coming to the 'Grand Prix of gravel roads' also in
the future.
Pos Driver / Co-driver Car (Group) Time 1. Tommi Makinen / Seppo Harjanne Mitsubishi (A) 4:39:25 2. Marcus Gronholm / Timo Rautiainen Toyota (A) -9:31 3. Jarmo Kytolehto / Arto Kapanen Opel (F2 winner) -20:41 4. Per Svan / Johan Olsson Opel (F2) -21:43 5. Alister McRae / David Senior Nissan (F2) -24:48 6. Mika Korhonen / Launo Heinonen Mitsubishi (N winner) -27:28 7. Marko Ipatti / Harri Kiesi MItsubishi (N) -27:52 8. Jouni Ahvenlammi / Teppo Leino Toyota (N) -30:08 9. Mika Utria / Marko Lehtinen Mitsubishi (N) -34:43 10. Pavel Sibera / Petr Gross Skoda (F2) -37:32 11. Emil Triner / Pavel Stanc Skoda (F2) -38:13 12. Priit Kasak / Toomas Kasak Mitsubishi (N) -38:56 13. Erwin Weber / Manfred Wiemer Seat (F2) -41:49 14. Jonas Kruse / Anders Dawidson Renault (F2) -42:26 15. Antonio Rius / Manuel Casanova Seat (F2) -44:28 ...
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