5.3.2023 - Rough jump in Palsankylä stage broke Ford Fiesta WRC in Jyväskylä winter rally - Mikko Eskelinen managed to finish the rally and win WRC-group
Third round of Finnish Rally Championship series and a home rally for Mikko Eskelinen and his co-driver Arto Kapanen was driven in region of Jyväskylä. It didn't go as planned for the WRC-drivers as a big, and legendary, Palsankylä jump caught Eskelinen by surprise. A bit too fast approach caused a big jump and a heavy landing. Due very rough impact co-driver Arto Kapanen lost air from his lungs and horsepowers ran out from the cars' engine.
For the rest of the day Eskelinen and Kapanen drove with broken suspension and reduced horsepowers. 12th position in overall standings and a victory in WRC-group was still decent result.
- In recce I didn't noticed that there was a small jump before the big jump. Therefore when I hit the brakes we jumpt and then jumpt again. When the car went into air I couldn't see anything but the road in front of my windscreen. After the heavy landing my co-driver Arto Kapanen hurt himself and I was very worried that should I stop the car. However he continued reading the pace notes even he was hurt and we managed to finish the stage. In transit section to service park our car gave us multiple warning of technical issues, Eskelinen tells.
- Rest of the day was just cruising thru the stages and adding oil to engine which was damaged in the heavy landing. Because also the suspension suffered damages our competition enjoyment was turned into a survival to end of the rally. After final stage the car gave us one more warning of electric system failure. However we got thru and therefore highest trophies of WRC-group tastes sweet after two dissapointing returements, Eskelinen continues.
Overall winner of the rally was Jari Huttunen who competed with eight years old Skoda Fabia R5. Second fastest was two times Finnish Rally Champion Teemu Asunmaa who competed with brand new Skoda Fabia Rally2.
Final Results: SM Jyväskylän Talviralli 2023: Overall standings, top-3:
1. Jari Huttunen & Antti Haapala, Skoda Fabia R5, 46:23,6
2. Teemu Asunmaa & Ville Mannisenmäki, Skoda Fabia Rally2, +6,2s
3. Lauri Joona & Tuukka Shemeikka, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, +15,0s
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12. Mikko Eskelinen & Arto Kapanen, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, +3:11,0s (1st in WRC-group)
