Rally of a Thousand Lakes

The almost unknown Kyösti Hämäläinen beat all the established stars to become the surprise winner of Finland’s Rally of the Thousand Lakes. Partnered by Martti Tiukkanen in a works Group 4 Ford Escort RS1800, shown above, the usually Group 1 mounted Hämäläinen drove coolly to victory without pace-notes in a bitter battle over the characteristic blind crests of the Finnish forests. Second, in this rally of many retirements, were Timo Salonen/Jaakko Markkula in a works Fiat 131 Abarth, below, after Markku Alén’s similar car succumbed to Hämäläinen’s pressure. Ford now lead in the World Championship by six points.