29 January 2003 - 14:13 Business for Tuohino, pleasure for Hakkinen Arctic Lapland Rally Finland 23-25.1.2003

Mika Hakkinen's goal when he entered Finland's Arctic Rally was to enjoy himself. The former Formula One driver wanted to make it to the end of the rally and have fun along the way. With a 29th place finish in hand, he can say "Mission accomplished!"

Driving cautiously at first, Hakkinen stepped it up in leg two and was on his way up the leaderboard when a tyre puncture cost him precious minutes in SS9. Mika would find himself in 46th place but would refuse to give up. His Mitsubishi roared back to its final 29th spot.

Kristian Sohlberg, his Ralliart teammate, wasn't as fortunate and had to retire, a slight off in a snowbank having damaged his car just enough to cause a mechanical failure.

Hakkinen was beaming: “It was a very difficult and tiring rally. The last special stage was very demanding as it was long and foggy and I didn't want to screw up so close to the finish line. It is a personal victory for me and for Team Mitsubishi. We had to fight through bright sunshine right in my face, darkness, reindeers crossing the road, all things that I'm not used to seeing during a race!”

Indeed, in SS12, a herd of reindeers crossed the road! Juuso Pykalisto couldn't avoid one of them, forcing him to retire. On the DNF list we also find Jussi Valimaki, his Hyundai letting him down in SS12.

Victory in this first event of the Finnish championship belongs to Janne Tuohino, placing his Ford Focus WRC ahead of the Jouni Ampuja's Toyota Corolla. Sebastian Lindholm and his Peugeot 206 took the last step on the podium.

Arctic Rally : Final standings

1 Janne Tuohino - Markku Tuohino       Ford Focus WRC       2h16'48"1
2 Jouni Ampuja- Mika Ovaskainen        Toyota Corolla WRC at   3'02"3
3 Sebastian Lindholm - Launo Heinonen  Peugeot 206 WRC    at   4'51"9
4 Jari Viita - Teppo Leino             Ford Focus WRC     at   5'23"2
5 Hannu Hotanen - Sami Rдsдnen         Mitsubishi Lancer  at   5'34"5
6 Jouko Tiri - Ari Haipus              Subaru Impreza     at   6'17"7
7 Juha Salo - Mika Stenberg            Mitsubishi Lancer  at   6'17"7
8 Timo Hulkkonen - Heikki Kovalainen   Ford Focus WRC     at   7'40"7
9 Marko Uutela - Tiina Uutela          Mitsubishi Lancer  at   7'58"5
10 Heikki Westerlund - Ismo Rajameki   Mitsubishi Lancer  at   8'00"6

Francis COULOMBE
CAPSIS International, 26/01/2003