Pentti Airikkala
Born: 4 September 1945
Helsinki
Pentti Airikkala/Ron Crellin in a DTV Vauxhall Magnum Coupe, 1975 Welsh Rally.
Pentti Airikkala started rallying in 1965 in an old Volvo. He has rallied with many factory teams including Isuzu, Renault, Opel, Ford, Vauxhall, Lancia and Mitsubishi.
Airikkala's best success came with Britain's Dealer Team Vauxhall (DTV), with whom he finished second in the 1977 British championship. His best finish in the World Rally Championship was a win at the Lombard RAC Rally of Great Britain in 1989 while driving a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4.
Today, Airikkala runs a rally/racing school in England. Details can be found at http://www.leftfootbraking.com.
| Year | Rally | Finish | Car | Co-driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Arctic (SF) | 3rd | Renault 12 Gordini | |
| 1975 | Arctic (SF) | 5th | Vauxhall Magnum Coupe | |
| Hanki (SF) | 6th | Vauxhall Magnum Coupe | ||
| 1976 | Welsh | 2nd | Ford Escort RS 1600 | |
| Scottish | 4th | Ford Escort RS 1600 | ||
| 1000 Lakes (SF) | 2nd | Ford Escort RS 1800 | ||
| 1977 | Welsh | 1st | Vauxhall Chevette HS | |
| Manx | 1st | Vauxhall Chevette HS | ||
| 1977 | 2nd in British Championship | |||
| 1979 | Swedish | 3rd | Vauxhall Chevette 2300HS | Risto Virtanen | Circuit of Ireland | 1st | Vauxhall Chevette HS |
| Scottish | 1st | Vauxhall Chevette HS | ||
| Ulster | 1st | Vauxhall Chevette HS | ||
| 1981 | Swedish | 3rd | Ford Escort RS | Risto Virtanen |
| 1000 Lakes (SF) | 5th | Ford Escort RS | Risto Virtanen | |
| Lombard RAC (GB) | 4th | Ford Escort RS | Phil Short (GB) | |
| 1982 | 1000 Lakes (SF) | 3rd | Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo | Juha Piironen |
| 1988 | Lombard RAC (GB) | 4th | Lancia Delta Integrale | Brian Murphy (IRL) |
| 1989 | Lombard RAC (GB) | 1st | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 | Ronan McNamee (IRL) |
Some of Airikkala's greatest success came at the wheel of the Vauxhall Chevettes.
Airikkala on the way to a win at the 1989 RAC.
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