18.5.2012 Dream opening for Mikko Pajunen in Rally dell´ Adriatico, Italy
The first day of rally is behind in the Rally Dell ´Adriatico in Italy. Pajunen and Lindström made fastest times in all of four Special Stages. In the first service it was clear, that Pajunen has found the bliss of driving again.
- It feels good to push in the gravel after a long time. Anyway it has been rather different to what I have previously been driven. A really hard surface, almost like tarmac, the driving style must have been adjusted to it. Also average speeds in the stages are quite high, says Pajunen after two special stages.
- Evo Twingo is new car on the gravel and the car is little tricky to drive. But I´m sure that during the rally we invent some tricks, either for the car or to the driver to get it right, summed Pajunen.
2nd place in the R2 class is A. Carella with Twingo R2 Evo. He is 43,0 seconds behind Pajunen. 3rd in the class is A. Nucita with Citroen C2 R2 Max. Pajunen also leads Twingo R2 Gordini Trophy in the rally. Pajunen and Lindström are in the 15th place in Rally Del Adriatico overall competition. Tomorrow rally continues in the SS5 Castel Saint 'Angelo (18.29km) and it continues to the SS6 Colli del Verdicchio (9.12 km). Both of these special stages will be driven three times tomorrow. Winners of the rally will be on the podium in Cingoli after 7 pm.
Live results and schedule of Rally Dell´Adriatico
Listen drivers' comments during the race here
Photo: MiHa & JJ
24.4.2012 Pajunen found his pace on Italian tarmac - Spin ruined changes for victory
Mikko Pajunen had a successful European championship event in the Mille Miglia Rally in Italy. The Finn who was invited to the event by Renault Sport fought hard in his Twingo R2 Evo car, challenging for the victory right up till the penultimate stage. Pajunen and his co-driver Kaj Lindström had to retire because of a spin.
- It was a long stage, and I managed to chase down the car which left before me. My concentration dropped a little while I was chasing, and in one of the corners my line went wide. The rear hit a rock or something and threw us across the road and on our roof. That was the end of the story, told Pajunen.
Pajunen was driving in the second place in his class. On the opening day the tarmac roads were wet from the rain, and tyre choices played an important part. On the second the the rain had stopped, and the roads were dry. Especially on the dry conditions Pajunen was driving top times and managed to get only 31 seconds away from the class leader before he was forced to retire on stage 14.
- It went really well and our speed was spot on. The people at Renault were happy too, since this is only a new car and they are still developing it. Of course I'm disappointed by the spin, but there's nothing I can do about it anymore. The most important thing was that the car was doing well and the driver was fast enough, said Pajunen.
Pajunen and Lindström will drive in Italy again in May. That time it will be on gravel. The Finnish championship starts again in June in Lapua.
Text: Miiro Koivula
Photo: Jani Kekoni
19.4.2012 Mikko Pajunen to study tarmac in Rally Mille Miglia
Mikko Pajunen competes in the Rally Mille Miglia in Italy this weekend. The Finn from Jyväskylä drives in Renault Sport's Twingo R2 Evo. Pajunen's co-driver will be Kaj Lindström. Mille Miglia (1000 Miglia) is an all-tarmac Italian rally classic. This year the event is part of the European Championship.
- We did some testing and the car seemed ok. We did a few minor changes mainly to the wheel angles which improved the car from the last race, says Pajunen.
There will be 15 stages in the rally, adding up to 250 kilometers. The rally center is in Brescia.
- There will be all kinds of tarmac road in there. Bumpy, small and wide. Let's see what we have learnt from driving on tarmac, ponders Pajunen.
Pajunen has been practising the art of tarmac rallying in Alastaro circuit in Finland under the guidance of multiple Finnish touring car champion Olli Haapalainen.
Text: Miiro Koivula
Photo: Jani Kekoni