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Flying Finn
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Four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen was in the city to train aspiring rallyists
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THERE ARE certain sports that enjoy overwhelming patronage in a particular region. Cricket occupies an unenviable position in India, while baseball is revered in America. Soccer is considered a religion in Brazil, while sumo is a quintessential part of the Japanese psyche. Similarly, Finns owe allegiance to motor sports in general and rallying in particular.
The snow-covered roads in Finland form a perfect training ground for aspiring rallyists. Slipping and sliding the cars through such terrain, the Finns learn to correct an errant rear or control wheel spin. Probably, the Finns find the cauldron of the cockpit of a rally car more comfortable than the cold climate that Mother Nature has bestowed upon them. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Finns have accrued 13 world rally titles since the points format was mooted in 1978. Apart from Pavvo Nurmi, these bunch too earned themselves the well-deserved moniker `Flying Finns.'
Leading the Finnish fleet is Juha (pronounced yooha) Kankkunen. Kankkunen, one of the evocative names in the sport, recently visited the city at the behest of MRF to train aspiring rallyists.
A brief conversation with the four-time world rally champion was refreshing. He isn't the archetypal Finnish race driver, relying on monosyllabic usage. He is articulate and flat out much like his driving style.
Rallying was a family tradition for Kankkunen. His father was an accomplished rallyist in local circles. Hailing from rural Finland, his farm was very close to the route traversed by the Rally of Finland. Kankkunen was exposed to the sport at an early age.
After growing from strength to strength in the regional level, Kankkunen made his debut in WRC, the crème de la crème of rallying, in 1979 in the Safari Rally in Kenya in a Ford Escort. He finished seventh overall. However, a WRC win remained elusive until 1985, when he clinched the top spot in Kenya in a Toyota Celica.
Once he secured his first win, frequent trips to the top step of the podium followed. Soon he took the world rally title in 1986 with Peugeot and followed it up by pocketing the 1987 crown with Italian manufacturer Lancia. He had to wait for four years for his third title. But this time he had to wade off a spirited challenge from Spaniard Carlos Sainz. And his final world title came in 1993 with the Celica.
However, the ever-reliable Celica proved to be his undoing. He was robbed of a potential fifth title in 1995 when the stewards sensed a technical discrepancy in the car and excluded him from the points championship, while he was leading the table.
"That's not my fault. But we have to live with it," Kankkunen says.
At that juncture Kankkunen's feat of four titles seemed daunting and his record was considered impeccable. But his compatriot Tommy Makinen equalled his record in 1999 when he won his fourth WRC title. Interestingly, Makinen is Kankkunen's protégé. Hence Kankkunen feels gratified that his disciple has mirrored his achievements.
Having piloted an array of cars in the WRC, Kankkunen finds it difficult to choose his all-time favourite. However, he says that he liked the Peugeot 205 very much and even has some good words about the Toyota Celica.
He felt disappointed when Ford pulled out the Escort, the longest serving rally car, and introduced the Focus.
"No other mark can match the record of the Escort. Every driver in the circuit would remember the brand. It was one of the best cars," Kankkunen says with a tinge of sadness.
Unlike other forms of motor sports, rallying isn't all about the driver. A good navigator is as important as driving the best car. Kankkunen did have a few co-drivers along the way but says he had the longest relationship with Juha Piironen.
"You must have a good relationship with your co-driver. You must be able to grasp his timing notes. Good co-drivers and drivers go hand in hand. If one of them is missing, then there would be no rewards," says Kankkunen. After all, it takes two to tango, doesn't it?
Kankkunen did not confine himself to the WRC alone. He dabbled with the Paris-Dakar rally, dubbed the Tour de France of motor sports. Kankkunen entered the fray with a Peugeot, which at that time was a well-oiled outfit. He simply rocked the competition in 1985 to clinch the title in his maiden attempt. But he had his terrifying moments in the rally. He lost the route a couple of times and was forced to halt for more than one and a half days due to a major sandstorm in Africa. Incidentally, this year's Dakar features his compatriot Ari Vatanen and another rally legend Colin McRae.
Though he tried his hands in road racing, Kankkunen emphasises that rallying will remain close to his heart and he plans to have another go at Dakar in the near future.
Having come to India for the first time, he feels that rallying is quite organised judging by the enthusiasm of the competitors here. He feels that India stands a good chance of grabbing the spot to host a round of the World Rally Championship. Having conducted the Asia Pacific Rally Championship with aplomb, India has a strong case to present.
But Kankkunen adds with a touch of trepidation that the Government ban on tobacco sponsoring sports events might be a major deterrent.
Despite all the accolades, Kankkunen remains modest and still prefers to hunt in rural Finland although he now owns a second home in Monaco.
G. VENKAT GANESHAN
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