Mikkola's Kielder

Finnish pairing Vesa Mikkola and Tapio Suominen, driving a Group N Civic Type R, experienced a challenging Kielder debut on last weekend's Pirelli International Rally.

Their first view of Kielder came on the 'shakedown' test on Thursday afternoon in the Shepherdshield complex and both were left really looking forward to the start of the event.

The rally began on Friday evening and the first stages in the darkness were to prove quite tricky. After setting fastest Class times on the first two stages a puncture on stage 3 saw them drop some 30 seconds and finish leg 1 in 2nd place. However, the 2nd leg on Saturday started with a rapid return to their winning ways. Fastest times on every stage soon saw them back in the class lead and after 10 stages the margin between them and the 2nd placed crew was around 8 minutes. Then on SS11 (out of 14) the car lost drive to one wheel and Vesa and Tapio struggled out of the stage with a time loss of over 3 minutes. They headed back to service convinced they had broken a driveshaft but examination there proved that the problem was actually a broken diff. After a quick consultation the crew decided to try and drive the remaining 3 stages in 'one wheel drive' but unfortunately an uphill section right at the end of SS11 proved to be their undoing and the Civic ground to a halt. However, rapid action by the team saw the car back in the finish parc ferme at Carlisle in time to secure 4th place in class.

Richard Asquith commented "It was very disappointing not to win the Class after Vesa had driven so well but both Vesa and Tapio enjoyed the challenge of Kielder. Now we have to prepare for the Jim Clark Rally which will be Vesa's first ever rally on tarmac - another totally new experience!".

Autosport Technology is also pleased to be continuing their association with Gilbran (Investors in Automotive Real Estate), King Sturge, Speedline and PIAA.

23 Apr 2007

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