Personal information | |
---|---|
Nationality |
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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 |
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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 |
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]
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]
# | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
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1989 | Ronan McNamee | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 |
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 |
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]
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]
# | Event | Season | Co-driver | Car |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() |
1989 | Ronan McNamee | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 |