Mikko Pajunen is the new British Rally Champion
The Finn won his class in Yorkshire Rally
Mikko Pajunen is the new British Rally Champion in R2-class. The Finn
won his class over the weekend in Yorkshire Rally and secured the
title. Pajunen competed with his co-driver Jani Salo in Autosport
Technologys Renault Twingo.
- I got the title and fulfilled my goal. There were all kinds of
things happening this season, but eventually the result was the best
possible. This season I had to drive a lot faster than last year, said
Pajunen.
There was suppose to be another rally in this years calendar, the
legendary Manx Rally on the tarmac roads of Isle on Man, but that
event was cancelled. Pajunens total points are 90, while his team mate
Siim Plangi (Est) finished second with 87 points. There was another
Finn in the championship, Jussi Kumpumäki, who was eventually forth.
- I got the news about the cancellation of the last event right before
the start of this rally. Therefore the stakes were higher since the
title was going to be decided already on this weekend, emphasised
Pajunen.
Pajunen won his class in Yorkshire by 11.5 seconds before Plangi.
Pajunen took the lead at the sixth stage.
- I made a mistake in the opening stage. The gravel surface was really
slippery and we had missed one point in the pacenotes. We slipped over
to a ditch for about twenty seconds. It took some effort to get us
going again. After that the accelerator stayed nailed to the floor for
the rest of the day. The stages were pretty simple which made it
difficult to make any real headway. I knew the sixth stage was
difficult, and I managed to regain my position on that, summarised
Pajunen.
Pajunen, 27, is part of the AKK-Motorsport rally coaching team.
Pajunen is supported by a background staff of influential rally and
business people and his career is built by a former double World Rally
Championship Risto Mannisenmäki.
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