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
