12.3.2012 - Kari Hytönen and Ada Herranen wrapped the winter season with a tasty class win
The Kuortane rally in ideal winter weather ended in a fine class win and 15th overall position for Kari Hytönen and Ada Herranen.
The Ford Fiesta R2 driver was satisfied with 24, 5 seconds winning marginal, which granted dashing trophies. The win was a little surprise for Hytönen, who has rallied actively since 1983.
- Before the rally I thought we will be behind the powerful BMW rally cars. Undeniably I was a little surprised when I heard that the second position BMW driver Heikki Peltomäki was almost half a minute behind and third Mats Ingman almost a minute.
- My Ford Fiesta R2 rally car performed without a glitch, my young co-driver Ada Herranen did her job fine and at times ever the driver was good, I must be happy with the rally, continues Hytönen.
Final results Löyän-Loukon rally special, Kuortane: Luokka 6, top-3: 1. Kari Hytönen & Ada Herranen, Ford Fiesta R2, 15.41,3
2. Heikki Peltomäki & Pekka Penttilä, BMW 325i, +25,4sek
3. Mats Ingman & Jouni Saarijärvi, BMW 325i, +56,6sek
27.2.2012 - Kari Hytönen started season in Mikkeli - 6th position according objective
Kari Hytönen has not had time to rally after his crash in Kerava five months ago. Both rebuilding the car and busy season at work has kept him away from competing. Although he has not had time to use rally helmet, he has been a familiar sight at Finnish Championship rallies where he has been rally coordinator for Tommi Mäkinen Racing.
He had plans to start the season in summer, but a little pressure from his sponsors he was at the starting line in Mikkeli with his co-driver Jukka Herranen, who only had his second go at pace-note rallies.
The five stages in Mikkeli offered the Ford Fiesta R2 rally car driving pair many incidents which ended in sixth position in the class.
The experienced driver considered the Mikkeli rally appropriate an also in results according the plans.
- Although the long break which meant lack of routine sidelined us a bit, I did not let it bother us. We had a good rally with Jukka and my repaired car performed fine. I am especially pleased with our times at third and fourth stages, told Hytönen who had positive feeling after the rally.
- At the last stage we took two extra minutes to our stage time when a little too brave driving style ended with the rear of the car in a snow bank. Thanks to help from audience we were able to get to the finish and accept the sixth position. Without the incident we would have been fifth.
The next rally for Hytönen will be in Kuortane where Kari will have Jukkas daughter Ada Herranen as co-driver. The focus on Hytönen 2012 season will be in the international rallies of the summer. This will be verified as plans start to materialize.
Final results FRC Vaakuna rally, SM3-group: 1. Joonas Lindroos & Pasi Kilpeläinen, Citroen C2 R2 Max, 1:06:01,1
2. Andreas Amberg & Matti Heikkinen, Ford Fiesta R2, +15,7sec
3. Juho Annala & Tuukka Shemeikka, Citroen C2 R2 Max, +1:52,9sec
4. Risto Immonen & Henri Penttinen, Citroen C2 R2 Max, +2:02,8sec
5. Petri Itkonen & Janno Older, Citroen C2 R2 Max, +6:44,9sec 6. Kari Hytönen & Jukka Herranen, Ford Fiesta R2, +7:36,4sec
7. Jukka Rautio & Tero Nummenpää, Citroen C2 R2 Max, +8:39,9sec
8. Vesa Lehmussaari & Pertti Helén, Citroen C2 R2 Max, +9:28,9sec
