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A Tribute to Pentti Airkkala
friend and mentor
Pentti Airikkala - Pentti Airikkala was born in Finland in 1945. Penti was one of the original 'Flying Finns' and won the RAC & Welsh Rally in 1989.
Airikkala made his home in England at Bray on the banks of the Thames.
Pentti's
garden ran down to the Thames were he moored his classic boat and was a
familiar sight in the odd boat race or two ! although he lived in
England for many years Pentti Airikkala was never anything but a Finn at
heart and was immensely proud of his nationality, Pentti would often
remind us that
' where there's a Finn there's a shark ! '
Over the years I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with the 'Boss' (Penti
Airkikkala) when we (Fairfield Motorsport) were running Jari
Matti-Latvala in his 1st year and a lot of time testing with Jari-Matti
Latvala and Miko Hirvonen.
Pentti
Airkikkala's motorsport career and achievements were vast but his
most famous wins were in 1989 when he took victory in a Mitsubishi on
the RAC Rally and the International Welsh Rally. 2003 saw Pentti
Airikkala final return to the world stages in the Fairfield Motorsport
Mitsubishi Evo VI, alongside Nigel Gardner on the Wales Rally GB. The
previous year had seen the car driven on the same event by Pentti
Airikkala's protégé, the then-17 year old Jari-Matti Latvala. Jari
finished 17th overall and 1st Mitsubishi, although Pentti believed he
would have seen the car inside the top 10! The drive for Airkikkala
was disappointing, his health had started to decline but he pushed as
Pentti could and started the rally but unfortunately retired early.
Pentti Airikkala
1945-2009
click here for wikipedia account
Flying Finn
Tutor extraordinaire
Pentii Airkikkala died in Bray, Berkshire on the 30th September, 2009 - aged 64 years
and having battled illness for some time. Having been mentor and
driver coach to Jari-Matti Latvala and Miko Hirvonen in their formative
days, Pentti Airikkala leaves a new generation of Flying Finns to
represent the most charismatic Finn of them all. Our deepest condolences
go to Pentti Airkikkala's wife Susan and children Nico &
Nataliine, his grandchildren and family and all the friends who grieve
with us of his passing.There are enough memories of Penti Airkikkala to
write a which would be very entertaining ! I was fortunate enough to
teach at his school and represented his rally school in the Old
Metro Challenge days. Pentti Airkikkala was at his best amongst fellow
rally enthusiasts he had no side if they loved rallying Pentti had time
for them, he never forget his roots and gave everyone time.
RIP Boss - it was a true
pleasure !
Fairfield Motorsport
Tribute to Pentti Airkikkala |
Pentti Airikkala - Lombard RAC Rally 1989
Pentti Airkikkala's motorsport career and achievements were vast but his most famous wins were in 1989 when he took victory in a Mitsubishi on the RAC Rally and the International Welsh Rally. Pentti was not only a driver, he was a teacher and mentor who could
pass on his skills and vast engineering understanding of the
car to others.
Escort Day's
Vauxhall Chevette
Pentti Airikkala - was left foot braking
Pentti Airkikkala was one of the most talented and clever people I have ever seen when
setting a car up. A lot of people thought some of his ideas were
crazy but he wouldn't rest until they were tested and he was proved
right! He was extremely proud of Jari and the other drivers he worked
with over the years. I am very grateful for all he taught me and
shared over the years.
Pentti Airkikkala -never to be forgotten, but I can't help thinking of all the
unfinished conversations and ideas !
Pentti Airikkala testing with Jari-Mati Latvala & Miko Hirvonen
Pentti's boys Latvala and Hirvonen are today's Flying Finns works drivers and high up the World Rally Championship with World Championship wins to their credit.
Latvala won in 2010 Rally Finland his and Pentti's WRC home event.
I hope you were watching Boss
Latvals's driving to his 1st overall UK win with many more to follow in the UK, Finland and on the World Championship Stage - when Latvals was just 17 years old, Penti Airkkala said 'this is one of to-morrows youngest World Rally Champions'.
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