SM Uusikaupunki ralli 2008 Results: Jukka Hiltunen wins in his 03 Focus WRC
The sixth and penultimate round for Finnish Rally Championship series was won, after some dramatic moments, by the Ford Focus RS WRC'03 driver Jukka Hiltunen and his co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo. The rally took place last weekend. Eight special stages and approximately 85 special stage kilometres offered drivers a wild ride in the Finnish west-coast grave special stages. Hiltunen was eventually 3,7 seconds faster than Skoda Octavia WRC driver Jukka Ketomäki.
Rally of Uusikaupunki is well-known for its' high speed stages and narrow gaps in times as drivers year by year solve their positions by tenths of seconds. Also this year the top 3 drivers in the rally were only 8,5 seconds margin from each other. The speciality of the rally was that Jukka Hiltunen didn't pour the champagne on highest podium as it was done by his fellow competitor Jukka Ketomäki who then received a 10 second penalty by being one minute late from service. Organisers added the time to his final results after the podium and through that time penalty Hiltunen took first position.
Some action from the Rally of Uusikaupunki 2008:
"It would have been excellent to celebrate my first ever overall victory on the position I'd deserved. Therefore I must give some negative feedback for the organisers. On the other hand only the winners will be remembered and therefore this position tastes so good."
"When reviewing the whole rally we had a splendid rally day although I made small mistakes on all eight special stages. During those stages we had a huge battle with Ketomäki and Vihavainen. I wouldn't mind if I could have gained the second position after this intense rallying but as winning is everything for me I'm very happy at the moment. I would like to thank for all my fellow competitors for fierce rallying and hope that we'll have a re-match in next three weeks at the final round of FInnish Rally Championship event at Mikkeli."
Championship will be solved in Mikkeli - Chances for brigher medals exist
THE seventh and final round of the Finnish Rally Championship is to be rallied in two weeks time in the region of Mikkeli. Drivers face an historical event, because its' the final group An event in Finnish Rally Championship history. From the season 2009 on there wont be WRC or any other group A rally cars taking part for Championship points. Therefore there are lots at stake in the rally as all group A competitors want their name in the historic books by being the final group A driver in Finland to have won the Finnish Championship rally. This is also a goal for Jukka Hiltunen, who has improved his performance rally by rally.
– By the victory in Uusikaupunki I've taken a role for the battle of brigher medals. Due my victory I've secured the bronze medal and keep the possibility alive for the brigher ones. However in Mikkeli I must make a 100% performance and win the rally. At the same time my fellow competitors, mr. Ari Vihavainen and mr. Jussi Välimäki has to retire the event. It won't be easy because Vihavainen and Välimäki fights for the Championship with very intense thoughts. Välimäki is renting a modern World Rally Car for the final rally so therefore anything is possible, told Hiltunen.
– But let's celebrate my first ever Finnish Rally Championship event victory for the following days and then start to focus for the final round. In Mikkeli I have to concentrate on minimizing the mistakes. I'll be enjoying a lot from the final round, Hiltunen continued.
Rally of Uusikaupunki final classifications, group-A, top-3:
1. Jukka Hiltunen & Jarkko Kalliolepo, Ford Focus RS WRC'03, 44:31,7sek
2. Jukka Ketomäki & Kai Risberg, Skoda Octavia WRC, +3,7sek
3. Kosti Katajamäki & Lasse Hirvijärvi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, +8,5sek
Group-A Finnish Rally Championship points after 6/7 rounds:
1. Ari Vihavainen, 68
2. Jussi Välimäki, 67
3. Jukka Hiltunen, 52
4. Arto Juolahti, 32
5. Janne Tuohino, 25
Article and image www.jukkahiltunen.com
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