16.1.2012 Mikko Pajunen up to speed in Riihimäki The Four-wheel drive debutant third even with a broken gear stick
Mikko Pajunen found his way well around the four-wheel turbo car. The 27-year old from Jyväskylä drove third in Tommi Mäkinen Racing´s Subaru Impreza in the Finnish Rally Championship event in Riihimäki on Saturday. Pajunen was 28 seconds behind the winner Esapekka Lappi. The second place went to the reigning champion Juha Salo.
- The first couple of stages were pretty hard work, but afterwards things started going better and my driving got more relaxed, explained Pajunen.
Pajunen has participated in the Finnish championship, as well as in the British championship with a front-wheel drive car apart from a few test drives. At the end Pajunen tried to grab for the victory, but suffered a broken gear stick in the penultimate stage which ruined his changes for better finish.
- I tried to change with that tiny stick. It brought about all kinds of situations. The changing was difficult, and I tried to freewheel into the corners. It left a lot to be desired, especially since I couldn?t make an attack at the end. Actually the gear stick really bothers me now, said Pajunen.
Working with the co-driver Kaj Lindström was effortless. The day´s results include two top stage times.
- It was nice work. It makes me feel good to know that when everything goes as planned, we have very good changes. Today showed that. And the conditions were top class. A proper winter rally, told Pajunen.
The next Finnish rally event is in Rovaniemi in two weeks.
Text Miiro Koivula
Photo Jani Salo
In car videos from Riihimäki 2012
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