Pentti Airikkala

WRC driver
Name = Pentti Airikkala


Caption = 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.
Nationality = flagicon|Finland Finnish
Years = 1973–90, 2003
Teams = Privateer, Vauxhall, Rothmans Ford, Mitsubishi Ralliart, Martini Lancia, Nissan, Q8 Team Ford
Races = 37
Championships = 0
Wins = 1
Podiums = 6
Stagewins = 147
Points = 102
First race = 1973 1000 Lakes Rally
First win = 1989 Lombard RAC Rally
Last race = 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. [http://www.flyingfinns.com/airikkal.htm Pentti Airikkala] , 'Flying Finns' website] 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. [ [http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php?type=result&rallyid=188 38th Lombard RAC Rally] , Final classification, Rallybase.nl website] 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. [ [http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php?type=standing&standingid=wcd1981 1981 World Rally Championship for Drivers] , Final classification, Rallybase.nl] . 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. [ [http://www.leftfootbraking.com/penttischampions.htm Pentti's Champion Pupils] , leftfootbraking.com]

WRC victories

Career WRC results

"(podium positions highlighted in bold)"

References

External links

* [http://www.leftfootbraking.com/ Pentti Airikkala's UK-based rally driving school]
* [http://www.juwra.com/airikkala_pentti.html Profile of Airikkala at World Rally Archive]
* [http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php?type=profile&driverid=2833 Profile of Airikkala at Rallybase]