26.5.2024 - Mikko Eskelinen experienced first-ever roll in FRC Mad-Croc Länsirannikko Rally - Retirement from 5th position in a corner which was modified by spectators
17-years ago Flying Grandpa Mikko Eskelinen, age of 51, drove his first-ever Finnish Rally Championship event and now in final weekend of May he and his co-driver Arto Kapanen, age of 60, retired due crash in 3rd special stage of 4th Finnish Rally Championship round which was driven in region of Turku.
The third 18,6 special stage kilometre
special stage included lots of drama as Championship leader and reigning WRC3 World Champion Roope Korhonen crashed out just 400 metres before a corner which was modified by spectators who wanted to see drivers going off by cutting the bushes on outside corner. Even the competition jury had already given drivers a notification about the corner, two FRC1-group top drivers crashed their cars because if this spectators deception.
- After two Fridays special stages we were in good pace and our aim was to improve the speed for Saturdays stages. Before third stage we got the notification for spectators actions in the stage but it didn't help as we entered the corner with wrong speed and wrong line. We went off and the car rolled. Fortunately crew wasn't hurt, Eskelinen commeted his first-ever roll.
- If the scenery would have been same in the recce I would have done another kind of pace note for the corner. Now was the scenery had changed by spectators we entered the corner with wrong speed and line. I really hope that Finnish ASN will do something about this because this spectators action has to be stop, Eskelinen continues.
Winner of FRC Mad-Croc Länsirannikko Rally
was multiple Finnish Rally Champion Teemu Asunmaa who eventually was 51,7 seconds faster than silver position driver Niklas Grönholm. Even Korhonen enountered a heavy impact with his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, he's still leading the series by 11 points. Next round is to be driven in the middle of June at region of Seinäjoki.
- Even Dynamo Team is able to fix the car for the next round we need to make a decision to continue competing in Finnish Rally Championship series. Because of retirement we practically have lost medal positions and therefore there would not be anything to drive for. Furthermore I want to see what kind of action does Finnish ASN take to make sure that spectators doesn't modify the route or scenery or is it just OK that spectators can make modifications for the route the rally organizers have planned, Eskelinen shared his thoughts.
Final results FRC Mad-Croc Länsirannikko Rally 24th-25th May 2024: FRC1-group, top-3:
1. Teemu Asunmaa & Ville Mannisenmäki Ville, Skoda Fabia RS, 43:03,5
2. Niclas Grönholm & Samu Vaaleri, Skoda Fabia RS, +51,7s
3. Anssi Rytkönen & Mikael Korhonen, Skoda Fabia R5, +2:12,4s
--- ret. Mikko Eskelinen & Arto Kapanen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, crash SS3
Finnish Rally Championship standings 2024 (4/7 rounds), FRC1-group, top-3:
1. Roope Korhonen, Skoda Fabia/Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, 70p
2. Benjamin Korhola, Hyundai i20, 59p
3. Anssi Rytkönen, Skoda Fabia R5, 53p
--- 8. Mikko Eskelinen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, 29p
Masters Cup standings 2024 (4/7 events): top-5:
1. Reijo Muhonen, BMW M3, 45p 2. Mikko Eskelinen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, 28p
3. Kees Burger, Skoda Fabia R5, 27p
4. Arto Juolahti, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, 23p
5. Ville Ruokanen, Ford Fiesta Rally3, 23p
