5.5.2025 - Five punctures were too much for Mikko Eskelinen in Rallye Ciudad de Pozoblanco - Special stage times steadly in overall positions 4 to 6
In season 2013 Flying Finn Mikko Eskelinen, age of 52, compted his first-ever international rally in Rallye Sierra Nevada, which was driven in surroundings if Spanish Cordoba. Now 12 years later he and co-driver Mikko Lukka, age of 50, experienced five punctures in Rallye Ciudad de Pozoblanco, which was driven in 90kms north from Cordoba and were unable to reach their goals. In eight special stages and 102 special stage kilometres Finns drove with Calm Competicion team Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 and drove the stages to overall positions four to six.
- According the rally regulations we were able to use in total of eight tyres during the rally. However we experienced our first puncture in shakedown and next four before midday service where we arrived with two rims scrapping the iberian soil. As there were four stages and half of the rally to be driven with four tyres, we were forced use two extra tyres and therefore take a penalty so that we could drove the stages thru. In punctures we lost three minutes and got three minute penalty for using two extra tyres. However we have no idea why we experienced five punctures because we drove the whole rally without any offs or hits to stones. Also our fellow rivals experienced same problems and they either didn't knew what had caused the punctures, frustrated Eskelinen tells.
- Without tyre worries we would have able to drive for fourth position in overall classifications which would have been an excellent result for us. Calm Competicion team as well as my co-driver Mikko Lukka made superb job and therefore we were able to enjoy very emotional rally experience in narrow special stages in surroundings of Pozoblanco. Despite not so good result we enjoyed a lot in the stages where we didn't encounter punctures. Also the atmosphere in the rally was excellent and therefore I strongly believe that we will soon to be seen again competing in Iberian soil, Eskelinen continues.
Rallye Ciudad de Pozoblanco was won by Gil Membrado, age of 17.
Final results 12th Rallye Ciudad de Pozoblanco 2025 (Spain), 2nd – 3rd May 2025: Overall top-3:
1. Gil Membrado (ESP) & Alejandro López (ESP), Ford Fiesta Rally2, 1:02:56.8s
2. Alejandro Mauro (MEX) & Adrián Pérez (ESP), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +1:45.0s
3. Xavi Vidales (ESP) & Jordi Hereu (ESP), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +1:45.5s
--- 16. Mikko Eskelinen & Mikko Lukka, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +9:04.5s
1.2.2025 - Mikko Eskelinen had a thrilling competition against Jari-Matti Latvala in Arctic Lapland Rally - Thrilling battle was decided in snow blizzard of final 32kms stage
In season 2007 Flying Finn Mikko Eskelinen, age of 52, introduced himself to rallying and entered his first-ever Arctic Lapland Rally. Now in season 2025 edition of the rally he and his co-driver Arto Kapanen, age of 61, drove one of their best-ever rally. Since 2012 the duo has been driven in various Finnish Rally Championship events and how in 60th Arctic Lapland Rally they were rewarded by 2nd position in WRC-group and 7th position in overall classifications.
In their carees Eskelinen has driven the Arctic Lapland Rally now 19 times and Kapanen 28 times. The season 2025 edition of the rally included 13 special stages and 215,34 special stage kilometres. During the highly intense Arctic adventure Eskelinen and Kapanen had a thrilling competition against Toyota Gazoo Racing team manager Jari-Matti Latvala and his co-driver Janni Hussi, who are preparing for Historic European Rally Championship series.
In first competition day Ford Fiesta RS WRC drivers drove the stages 12,9 seconds faster than Latvala. However in morning loop of the second day Latvala was able to reduce the gap to 3,3 seconds until he was forced to back off due technical issues he encountered with his Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD. After colourful evening Eskelinen and Kapanen collect silver position by 26,8 seconds gap.
- It was a thrilling experience to follow the tracks by two times World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä and his team manager Jari-Matti Latvala and then in second day we draw the lines to them. For us the first day was a trouble-free. However second day was not so good as we spun three times and hit many snow banks in snow blizzard. Fortunately we managed to deliver the car to finish, Eskelinen tells.
- The final 32kms stage was absolutely the trickiest I've ever driven in my 19 years rally career. Jari-Matti Latvala was close behind and snow blizzard in front of us. It took two minutes more the drive the stage than in first pass when the stage was clear of loose snow. Furthermore as we spun and was were nearly about to get stuck in the snow bank I was pretty sure at the finish of the stage that Latvala would have been passed us. However he also suffered same difficult conditions and therefore we were very happy for the 2nd position in WRC-group and 7th position in overall standings, Eskelinen continues.
60th Arctic Lapland Rally was also a thrilling competition against new and young rally star Tuukka Kauppinen, age of 18, and season 2012 Finnish Rally Champion and professional rally driver Esapekka Lappi, age of 34. After morning loop of the second rally day Tuukka Kauppinen was leading the rally by four seconds to Lappi. However as Lappi missed the braking point in one junction, Kauppinen was able to win the rally by its' youngest driver ever. Kalle Rovanperä drove the rally with new WRC-tyre Hankook which had smaller stud than in the tyre Kauppinen used. For the whole rally Rovanperä tacked with less grip and therefore he was second fastest with 11,5 seconds gap to winner Tuukka Kauppinen.
Final results 60. Arctic Lapland Rally 2025, Rovaniemi, Overall: top-3:
1. Tuukka Kauppinen & Sebastian Virtanen, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, 1:52:16,4
2. Kalle Rovanperä & Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Yaris Rally1, +11,5s (1st in WRC-group)
3. Esapekka Lappi & Enni Mälkönen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, +38,1s
--- 7. Mikko Eskelinen & Arto Kapanen, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, +4:41,8s (2nd in WRC-group)
8. Jari-Matti Latvala & Janni Hussi, Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD, +5:08,6s (3rd in WRC-group)
