The two Finnish crews registered for this year’s Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship will be joined on the next round, the Pirelli International Rally, by another two crews from the home of the Scandinavian flick.
Joint second place in the Dulux Trade MSA British Formula 2 Rally Championship, Mikko Pajunen and co-driver Jani Salo might consider the solidarity slightly less welcome as they are the only Finns not piloting Ford products.
However they can take solace in their position, nine places further up the order than fellow BRC combatants Jussi Kumpumäki & Peter Flythström and in Autosport Technology’s place at the head of the Dulux Trade MSA British Teams Rally Championship.
With the promise that Jukka Korhonen & Marko Salminen, who have entered a similar R2 Fiesta to that of Kumpumäki, will register for BRC and Fiesta SportTrophy points, the rest of the R2 field must be on their guard.
Mentored by double World Rally Champion co-driver Risto Mannisenmäki, the crew has been competing in the Finnish Rally Championship and will bring recent experience from four events so far this season.
Teemu Horkama and Pasi Haataja is the fourth Finnish duo to be tempted by the fast gravel of the infamous Kielder Forest stages. Whilst unlikely to register their Ford Puma for championship points, it will be interesting to see how this most recent batch of Finns fare as the Scandinavians continue the tradition of testing their mettle against the best of British and Irish.
For more information on the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship visit www.rallybrc.co.uk.