Flying Finn 2009
Hannu Mikkola´s long career highlighted in Neste Oil Rally Finland
Finland´s WRC qualifying round organizer AKK Sports Ltd has nominated Hannu Mikkola as the Flying Finn of 2009. Among his remarkable achievements was winning the 1000 Lakes Rally a record seven times, becoming world rally champion and also twice Finnish champion. Mikkola´s exceptionally long and successful career will next summer be reminisced under the Flying Finn theme during Neste Oil Rally Finland.
Hannu Mikkola´s (b. 1942) rally career started all the way back in 1963, when his equipment was not quite up to the task yet. At the time he also pursued studies to eventually graduate as an automotive engineer, which later became a definite asset in developing new rally cars.
From 1965 Hannu Mikkola´s name was linked with Volvo and with support from the manufacturer´s importer he started to bring home the results in national rallies. Third place in the 1967 1000 Lakes Rally can be regarded as his break to the big-time. Only one year on and he won the same event with the new and upsurgent Ford Escort Twin Cam. This victory was followed by others in 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1982 and 1983.
Angel-faced devil reaps rewards
Abroad the blonde, curly-haired Finn was soon nicknamed the "angel-faced devil". He was generally ranked as one of the very fastest rally drivers. So, his feat to become the first European to win the arduous East-African Safari Rally in 1972 was received with a degree of surprise. Back then this marathon rally travelled through three countries and called for a prudent approach.
In the mid-70´s Mikkola drove for Fiat, Peugeot and Toyota. Eventually he returned to Ford and capped the 1978 season with victory in the RAC Rally driving an Escort RS1800.
When rally drivers first officially fought for their own world championship title in 1979, Mikkola lost out to team-mate Björn Waldegård by just one point. In 1983 Mikkola at last won the series with a performance that left no room for doubt. His mount then was the revolutionary Audi Quattro. Having achieved his goal Mikkola did not seriously chase another title, but still finished second in the series the following year.
Statistics will tell you that the number of Hannu Mikkola´s WRC event victories is 18. However, that does not do justice to a driver, who already reaped success before the world series had been established. For example, he won the 1000 Lakes Rally seven times altogether, but only four of those wins came in the world championship era.
Mikkola´s rally career was by no means over after the world title. In fact, one of his most memorable experiences was winning the pioneering Hong Kong - Beijing Rally of 1985. Even when the era of the so called supercars came to an end, Mikkola still took another great victory in the 1987 Safari Rally with a big Group A Audi 200 Quattro. After this he kept on competing as a member of the Mazda works team until the end of 1991.
A living legend of rallying
Having reached the age of 51 Hannu Mikkola made one more appearance with a works car in the 1000 Lakes Rally, where he guided a Toyota Celica to seventh place. After his professional career Mikkola has still often taken part in nostalgia-filled historic rallies for classic cars.
As a sportsman Mikkola was among the most promotable. His education and experience gave him the means to properly explain the whys and wherefores of success as well as failure. That made him a very popular competitor in the world of rallying.
The long and successful career of Hannu Mikkola will be presented for the public in the Flying Finns exhibition during the forthcoming Neste Oil Rally Finland. This exhibition will be open in Jyväskylä Paviljonki throughout the rally weekend.
Further information from:
AKK Sports Ltd, Event Manager Tiina Lehmonen, +358 400 546 410, firstname.lastname@autourheilu.fi.
