7.6.2026 - Mikko Eskelinen improved his speed in Spain - Fast roll in Rallye Reino de Leon
In season 2026 Flying Finn Mikko Eskelinen, age of 53, and his co-driver Arto Kapanen, age of 62, are competing with Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 in selected rally events in Spain.
In Rallye Reino de Leon, which was driven in first weekend of June in surroundings of Northern-Spain city called Leon. In seven fast-paced and rough special stages and 103,87 special stage kilometres the Calm Competicao team drivers finished the event in 7th position in overall classifications.
After Thursdays test stage the rally got underway in Fridays shakedown, qualifying and first stage which was driven in city center of Leon.
After 4th fastest special stage time Eskelinen and Kapanen steadly collect positions 6 to 8 in overall classifications. For the fifth stage the duo was in sixth position before encoutering a roll in slow left-hand-corner. After a locky escape and 20 seconds time loss the Finns were able to continue and finished the rally in satisfied feelings for the speed they had performed during the intense rally.
- In previous event, which was driven in first weekend of May in surroundings of South-Spain city called Pozoblanco, we found out that my driving style suited well for Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Now from the Thursdays test stage towards the rally we were in the pace we had set for ourselves before the event as I was able to drive boldly than ever before. I dared to cut the corners and take similar risks as my fellow competitors had done during the event. Unfortunately there were a rock inside one left-hand-corner which rolled our car. Fortunately we dropped back to wheels and were able to continue, Eskelinen shared his thoughts.
- Our coach has asked us more aggressive driving and now we delivered it as we could match our speed to the series leader Aleksandr Semenov. Therefore we're very happy for the progress and continue our campaign later in autumn when the series continues after a summer break. We also managed to have a nice new fact for rally statistics as my co-driver Arto Kapanen encounters these kinds of fast-rolls between 24 years. Previously he had this kind of fast-paced-roll in season 2002 editon of WRC Australia with his WRC-driver Jani Paasonen, Eskelinen continued.
Winner of Rallye Reino de Leon rally was Max Smart, age of 23. Next round of the Spanish Gravel Championship series is to be driven in first weekend of September in surroundings of Coruna which is located in North-Spain.
Final results Rallye Reino de Leon 2026, June 5th-6th 2026: Overall top-3:
1. Max Smart (KEN) & Alejandro López (ESP), Skoda Fabia R5, 1:03:23.7
2. Juan Carlos Quintana Conzales (ESP) & Jonathan Hernández Ávila (ESP), Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, +13.1s
3. Igor Bulantsev (RUS) & Maksim Belyukov (RUS), Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, +24.2s
--- 7. Mikko Eskelinen (FIN) & Arto Kapanen (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, +1:42.6s
