17.1.2023 - Mikko Eskelisen retired in Arctic Lapland Rally - Broken wheel base forced to stop rallying after penultimate special stage
Traditional Finnish rally season opener, 58th Arctic Lapland Rally was driven in surroundings of Arctic Circle, Northen Finland. Season 2023 edition of the highly appreciated rally didn't delivered success for Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver Mikko Eskelinen, age of 50, and his co-driver Arto Kapanen, age of 59 as their hopes for WRC-group victory was denied due technical problem which encountered in penultimate stage of the rally.
- In half way of the long Sarriojärvi special stage we encoutered technical difficulties as one of the wheel base broke up and our 4WD rally car was turned into 3WD version. We were forced to slow down to avoid larger damages. Then in service we decided to retire because there were no time to change the broken part, Eskelinen told.
WRC-drivers entered the event with high hopes and after two stages they were in eight position in overall standings. However a spin in third stage caused snow to block cooler and therefore they lost over two minutes because of cleaning work. After that it was just a pure survival for the finish in highly demanding rally.
- It was a normal right-hand corner. However because of heavy loose snow on the stage I lost the rear and started to spin. During our spin the spectators and their camp fire were hit by heavy snow storm and the front grill of our car was filled with snow. In this moment we lost two minutes and it was game over for top positions, Eskelinen shared his thoughts.
- In 7th stage we encountered another spin and then in 10th stage
we suffered this technical problem which eventually caused our retirement. It was a frustrating rally for us, Flying Finn continued.
It was a fierce battle for the victory of two days and over 200 special stage kilometres rally as two multiple Finnish Rally Champions measured their skills behind the steering wheel of Skoda Fabia R5 Evo car. Eventually Teemu Asunmaa collect the victory in front of Juha Salo. Asunmaa and his co-driver Ville Mannisenmäki drove the stages just by 1,5 seconds faster than Salo.
Mikko Eskelinen plans to compete in his home rally which is to be driven in first weekend of March in surroundings of his home city Jyväskylä, which is also known as spriritual home of rallying.
Final results 58th Arctic Lapland Rally 2023: Overall classifications top-3: 1. Teemu Asunmaa & Ville Mannisenmäki, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, 1:57:49,0
2. Juha Salo & Kristian Temonen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, +1,5s
3. Lauri Joona & Tuukka Shemeikka, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, +1:48,7s
--- retired. Mikko Eskelinen & Arto Kapanen, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, mechanical after ss ek10
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)
13.8.2023 - Mikko Eskelinen and Arto Kapanen fastest in WRC-group at Future FRC-rally - 9th position in overall classifications was an excellent result after five year of pause from gravel rallying
Five summer has passed since previous gravel rally for Flying Finn Mikko Eskelinen, age of 50, and his co-driver Arto Kapanen, age of 59. In 10 special stages and 149,12 special stage kilometres they competed with Ford Fiesta RS WRC and were able to collect win in group of WRC and 9th position in overall classifications.
- Earlier in March at our home ever which was driven in region of Jyväskylä, we suffered a very heavy landing from the legendary jump of Palsankylä stage. Even we won the WRC-group in the event, we had lots of repair works for the car which were done during spring and summer. After excellent work Team Dynamo did with the car it was very nice to enter my first gravel rally since five years. Ofcourse I had hopes of beating another circuit racing driver Heikki Kovalainen and in half way of the rally we had excellent battle for seconds with him. However as we made wrong tyre choice for the final loop we lost the thrilling battle, Eskelinen tells.
- Even so 9th position in overall standings and second-in-a-row victory in WRC-group tasted very sweet. Team made brilliant job as we were able to drive for a troble-free event. Ofcouse we could have driven a bit harder but as it wouldn't have delivered any higher trophies we decided to let Kovalainen be faster. However we enjoyed a lot on competing these very tricky and demanding special stages, shared Ford Fiesta RS WRC driver Eskelinen.
Competition for the overall victory was thrilling to watch until the final moments of the final special stage. The rally was won by Lauri Joona, who has made international break-thru in current season. Eventually Joona was 5,1 seconds faster than ten-times Finnish Rally Champion Juha Salo. Leader of World Rally Championship group 3 series Roope Korhonen was also in battle for the victory until a spin dropped him 4th position. However in final stages he was able to gain back on podium and collect 3rd position.
Final results Future FRC Rally, Lahti (Finland), August 11th-12th 8.2023, Overall top-3:
1. Lauri Joona & Tuukka Shemeikka, Skoda Fabia RS, 58:44,3
2. Juha Salo & Kristian Temonen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, +5,1s
3. Roope Korhonen & Anssi Viinikka, Volkswagen Polo GTI R5, +16,5s
--- 9. Mikko Eskelinen & Arto Kapanen, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, +3:27,8s (1st in WRC-group)
