The Finnish Rally Championship’s Savonlinna Ralli marked a pivotal moment as it transitioned from the winter to the summer season for this third round of the 2025 campaign. Despite being heralded as the last winter event, racers encountered “summer weather” conditions that posed unique challenges. Esapekka Lappi clinched his first victory of the season in these demanding circumstances.
The rally’s conditions were exceptionally tough, with spring weather turning exposed areas to gravel and shaded spots becoming dangerously slick. This resulted in several drivers experiencing spins and slides. The deteriorating conditions also led to the cancellation of one special stage, further complicating the race.
In the SM1 class, Esapekka Lappi dominated from the start, maintaining his lead throughout the rally. The usual close competition was absent as Lappi took an early lead and never looked back. Series points leader Tuukka Kauppinen was his closest challenger, trailing by just 4.4 seconds after three stages. However, Kauppinen’s rally ended abruptly when he crashed into a snowbank on the fourth stage, losing nearly three minutes and effectively ending his bid for victory.
Lappi ultimately won with a comfortable 35-second margin. Despite the grueling conditions, he described the rally as the most challenging winter event he had ever competed in in Finland. “Every corner presented a different grip challenge; I couldn’t establish a good rhythm at any point,” Lappi reflected at the finish line. He had little time to celebrate his win as he was due at his bachelor party immediately after.
Jari-Matti Latvala, another focal point of the rally, made his first Finnish Championship class appearance since 2006. A turbocharger issue initially set him back, but relentless driving in the subsequent stages saw him finish an impressive second.
The SM2 class witnessed a dramatic twist when Ville Vatanen, leading the race, spun his car and ended his run prematurely. Patrick Enok of Estonia, winner of the previous Rovaniemi race, took advantage of this and eventually secured the win, edging out Henri Altomaa by a decisive 10 seconds in the final stage.
The SM3 class featured an intense rivalry that saw veteran Jarkko Nikara claim victory after Joni Korhonen succumbed to the challenging conditions in the last stage. The coveted Flying Finn Future Star title also added a competitive edge, with Niko Kalmi finishing as the highest contender in the SM3 class.
The rally concluded with fierce competitions across various classes, epitomizing the unpredictable and thrilling nature of rally racing.
Overall Savonlinna Ralli Results
01: E. Lappi/E. Malkonen (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 42m 30.9s
02: J-M. Latvala/J. Hanninen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 35.8s
03: Y. Yamamato/J. Fulton (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 37.2s
04: T. Asumaa/T. Shemeikka (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 43.5s
05: H. Kogure/T. Luthinen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 1m 34.2s
06: P. Enok/A. Lesk (Ford Fiesta Rally3) + 1m 58.3s
07: H. Altomaa/J. Karpijoki (Renault Clio Rally3) + 2m 09.3s
08: T. Jylha/A. Viinikka (Skoda Fabia R5) + 2m 22.1s
09: T. Matsushita/P. Kelander (Renautl Clio Rally3) + 2m 24.0s
10: J. Liiten/P. Almkvist (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 evo) + 2m 25.9s
