Pentti Airikkala

Airikkala's Team Ralliart-entered Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo from the 1982 1000 Lakes Rally. Pentti Juhani Airikkala (4 September 1945 – 30 September 2009) was one of the "Flying Finns" who dominated world rallying in the past four decades. 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. 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. He is still the fourth oldest driver to win a WRC event.

Airikkala/McNamee's Ford Sierra barely missed a Top10 finish at 1990 Sanremo rally.

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. 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.

Death 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.

WRC victories Event Season Co-driver Car 1 38th Lombard RAC Rally 1989 Ronan McNamee Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

Racing record

Complete IMC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1971 Opel Mobil Team Opel Kadett Rallye MON SWE ITA KEN MAR AUT GRE GBRRet

Complete WRC results