Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality | ![]() |
Born | Helsinki, Finland | 4 September 1945
Died | 30 September 2009 Bray, Berkshire, United Kingdom | (aged 64)
World Rally Championship record | |
Active years | 1973–90, 2003 |
Co-driver | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Teams | Privateer, Vauxhall, Rothmans Ford, Mitsubishi Ralliart, Martini Lancia, Nissan, Q8 Team Ford |
Rallies | 37 |
Championships | 0 |
Rally wins | 1 |
Podiums | 6 |
Stage wins | 147 |
Total points | 102 |
First rally | 1973 1000 Lakes Rally |
First win | 1989 Lombard RAC Rally |
Last rally | 2003 Wales Rally GB |
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Osaka_Auto_Messe_2017_%28245%29_-_Mitsubishi_LANCER_EX_2000_TURBO_Rally_Car.jpg/220px-Osaka_Auto_Messe_2017_%28245%29_-_Mitsubishi_LANCER_EX_2000_TURBO_Rally_Car.jpg)
Pentti Airikkala (4 September 1945 – 30 September 2009) was one of the "Flying Finns" who dominated world rallying in 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.
Airikkala was born in Helsinki, Finland.[2] 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 won the 1989 RAC Rally in a Group A Mitsubishi Galant VR-4.[3][4] 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.[5] He also contested the British Rally Championship in the 1970s/80s, becoming British Rally Champion in 1979. Since retiring from full-time international competition he operated a highly successful rally driving school in Oxfordshire teaching left-foot braking, where his roster of pupils included subsequent World Champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns.[6]
Death
[edit]Airikkala died at Bray, Berkshire, UK, aged 64. He had been battling illness in recent years and was admitted to hospital shortly before his death after suffering liver problems and a fall.[7]
WRC victories
[edit]# | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
1989 | Ronan McNamee | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 |
Complete WRC results
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Pentti Airikkala, 'Flying Finns' website
- ^ a b Hope-Frost, Henry; Davenport, John (2004). The Complete Book of the World Rally Championship. Saint Paul, Minnesota: MotorBooks International. p. 62. ISBN 0-7603-1954-5.
- ^ 38th Lombard RAC Rally, Final classification, Rallybase.nl website
- ^ "My only WRC win -- Pentti Airikkala". Motor Sport Magazine. February 2005. p. 19. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
- ^ 1981 World Rally Championship for Drivers, Final classification, Rallybase.nl
- ^ Pentti's Champion Pupils Archived 2006-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, leftfootbraking.com
- ^ "Rally star Airikkala dies". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 2009-01-10. Retrieved 2009-01-10.