|
People
|
| Drivers |
| A to C |
| Aava, Urmo |
| Aghini, Andrea |
| Aigner, Andreas |
| Airikkala, Pentti |
| Pentti's WRC starts |
| al-Attiyah, Nasser |
| al-Qassimi, Khalid |
| al-Wahaibi, Hamed |
| Alen, Markku |
| Ambrosino, Alain |
| Andersson, Ove |
| Andersson, PG |
| Andruet, Jean-C. |
| Arai, Toshihiro |
| Araujo, Armindo |
| Atkinson, Chris |
| Auriol, Didier |
| Bacchelli, Fulvio |
| Baldacci, Mirco |
| Beguin, Bernard |
| Bengue, Alexandre |
| Bergkvist, Emil |
| Bernardi, Nicolas |
| Biasion, Massimo |
| bin Sulayem, M. |
| Block, Ken |
| Blomqvist, Stig |
| Boyce, Walter |
| Brazzoli, Enrico |
| Breen, Craig |
| Bugalski, Philippe |
| Burkart, Aaron |
| Burns, Richard |
| Camilli, Eric |
| Carlsson, Daniel |
| Carlsson, Ingvar |
| Chardonnet, Seb |
| Clark, Roger |
| Climent, Luis |
| Creighton, William |
| Cowan, Andrew |
| Cunico, Gianfranco |
| D to J |
| K to O |
| P to S |
| T to Z |
| Life of driver |
| Co-drivers |
| Team managers |
| Other people |
|
|
Sitemap
|
|
|
|
 |
Pentti was not the most famous of the Flying Finns but those who have heard him - or of him - do not forget that. Opinionated and outspoken character, Pentti was great proponent of left-foot braking and scandinavian flick, technique he viewed as the only correct one. He has lived in Great Britain for years where he had a rally driving school of his own.
Before expatriating from his native Finland, Airikkala had won 1974 national championship in Group 1. That he won partly with works Vauxhall, the marque with which he was also competing in British national championship and which made his name in international circles. Sadly, Vauxhall never was a winner's car and in later years Airikkala had occasional drivers for various makes with varying success.
If one looks at Pentti's WRC career, it is interesting to note that he has rallied with numerous famous co-drivers like Juha Piironen, John Davenport, Rodger Freeth, Mike Greasley, Seppo Harjanne, Mike Nicholson, Chris Porter and Phil Short. Even more so if non-WRC starts are included.
|
|
|
|
| WRC starts: | 37
first: Finland 1973
latest: Great Britain 2003 |
| Results | wins: | 1 | (2.7% of starts) |
| second places: | 1 | |
| third places: | 4 | |
| total podiums: | 6 | (16.2% of starts) |
| points finishes: | 10 | |
| total points scored: | 102 | (drivers' championship points) |
| DNF's: | 20 | (54.1% of starts) |
| Stage wins: | 147 | |
|
| First WRC event: | 1973 Finland |
| First DNF: | 1973 Finland |
| First scored point: | 1979 Sweden (3rd) |
| First stage win: | 1974 Great Britain |
| First time led rally: | 1976 Great Britain (SS11) |
| First podium: | 1976 Finland |
| First win: | 1989 Great Britain |
|
| | Team | Starts | Wins | Podiums | DNF's | Points | Rank | | 1973 | Private | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
| 1974 | Private | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
| 1975 | Private | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
| 1976 | Private | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
| 1977 | Private | | 3 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
| 1978 | Private | | 3 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | N/A | | | N/A | |
| 1979 | Private | | 4 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | 16 | | | 15th | |
| 1980 | Private | | 4 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 3 | | | 6 | | | 36th | |
| 1981 | Private | | 3 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 30 | | | 9th | |
| 1982 | Mitsubishi | | 2 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 12 | | | 20th | |
| 1983 | Lancia | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 8 | | | 23rd | |
| 1984 | Nissan | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | - | |
| 1985 | Private | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | - | |
| 1986 | Private | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | - | |
| 1987 | Private | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | - | |
| 1988 | Private | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 10 | | | 36th | |
| 1989 | Mitsubishi | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 20 | | | 14th | |
| 1990 | Ford,
Private | | 3 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 2 | | | 0 | | | - | |
| 2003 | Private | | 1 | | | 0 | | | 0 | | | 1 | | | 0 | | | - | |
|
|
 |
|
Pentti Airikkala
|
Nationality: Finland
Birthday: 04-Sep-1945
Died: 30-Sep-2009
|
|
 |
Airikkala gained most of his fame with Vauxhalls but his sole win came in the twilight years at 1989 RAC Rally with Mitsubishi Galant VR-4.
 |
 |
Some of the cars Pentti drove during his career, photographer at his funerals. Vauxhall Chevette, Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 and Mitsubishi Starion (l to r).
(Photo: Colin D. Raine)
|
|
