Pentti Juhani Airikkala (4 September 1945 – 30 September 2009) was one of the "Flying Finns" who dominated world rallying in the past four decades.Pentti Airikkala, 'Flying Finns' website His career was more sporadic than many of his contemporaries, and he competed in only three World Rally Championship (WRC) events regularly; the two Scandinavian rallies (the 1000 Lakes and the Swedish Rally) and the RAC Rally in the United Kingdom.

Airikkala was born in Helsinki, Finland. Most of his top flight competitive experience was behind the wheel of various rear wheel drive Vauxhall/Opels like the Chevette HS and Magnum coupé, but his greatest success came in the twilight of his career, when he won the 1989 RAC Rally in a Group A Mitsubishi Galant VR-4.38th Lombard RAC Rally, Final classification, Rallybase.nl website He is still the fourth oldest driver to win a WRC event.

Altogether he competed in 36 WRC events between 1973 and 1990, and a 37th in 2003, scoring 102 points and achieving a best of 9th overall in the 1981 Drivers' Championship.1981 World Rally Championship for Drivers, Final classification, Rallybase.nl He also contested the British Rally Championship in the 1970s/80s, becoming British Rally Champion in 1979. Since retiring from full-time international competition he operated a highly successful rally driving school in Oxfordshire teaching left-foot braking, where his roster of pupils included subsequent World Champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns.Pentti's Champion Pupils , leftfootbraking.com

Death Airikkala died at Bray, Berkshire, UK, aged 64. He had been battling illness in recent years and was admitted to hospital shortly before his death after suffering liver problems and a fall.

WRC victories  #  Event Season Co-driver Car 1 38th Lombard RAC Rally 1989 Ronan McNamee Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

Racing record

Complete IMC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1971 Opel Mobil Team Opel Kadett Rallye MON SWE ITA KEN MAR AUT GRE FRA GBRRet

Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts 1973 Auto-Airikkala Oy Opel Kadett GT/E MON SWE POR KEN MOR GRE POL FINRet AUT ITA USA GBR FRA N/A N/A 1974 Auto-Airikkala Oy Vauxhall Magnum Coupé POR KENFIN16 ITA CAN USA N/A N/A Centre Hotels / Clarke & Simpson Ford Escort RS1600 GBRRet FRA 1975 Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Magnum Coupé MON SWE KEN GRE MOR POR FINRet ITA FRA GBR20 N/A N/A 1976 Team Avon Tyres Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN GRE MOR FIN2 ITA FRA GBRDSQ N/A N/A 1977 Toyota Team Europe Toyota Celica 2000 GT MON SWERet POR KEN NZL GRE N/A N/A Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS FINRet CAN ITA FRA GBR16 1978 Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS MON SWERet KEN PORDNS GRE FIN3 CAN ITA CIV FRA GBRRet N/A N/A 1979 Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS MON SWE3 POR KEN GRE FINRet CAN ITA FRA GBR7 CIV 15th 16 GM Dealer Team New Zealand NZLRet 1980 Dealer Team Vauxhall Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HSR MON SWE6 POR KEN GRC ARG FINRet GBRRet CIV 36th 6 Masport Ford Escort RS1800 NZLRet ITA FRA 1981 Rothmans Rally Team Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE3 POR KEN FRA GRC ARG BRA FIN5 ITA CIV GBR4 9th 30 1982 Team Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancer 2000 Turbo MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL BRA FIN3 ITA CIV GBRRet 15th 12 1983 Martini Racing Lancia Rally 037 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN5 ITA CIV GBR 21st 8 1984 Team Nissan Europe Nissan 240RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FINRet ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1985 British Telecom / GM Dealer Sport Vauxhall Astra GTE MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBRRet NC 0 1986 British Telecom / GM Dealer Sport Vauxhall Astra GTE MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR16 USA NC 0 1987 GM Euro Sport Opel Kadett GSi MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE USA NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA GBRRet NC 0 1988 Safety Devices Lancia Delta Integrale MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR4 30th 10 1989 Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 SWE MON POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR1 14th 20 1990 Q8 Team Ford Ford Sierra Cosworth 4X4 MON POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FINRet AUS ITA11 CIV GBRRet NC 0 2003 Pentti Airikkala Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI MON SWE TUR NZL ARG GRC CYP GER FIN AUS ITA FRA ESP GBRRet NC 0

References

External links Pentti Airikkala's UK-based rally driving school Profile of Airikkala at World Rally Archive Profile of Airikkala at Rallybase Memorial page