As FIA Asia-Pacific Champion!
The present rally season has been duo sided when reviewing it in flying Finnish colours; In season 2005 there were no Finnish motorsport Champion in either WRC nor in Formula-1. However there are one Finnish FIA motorsport rally Champion; Professional Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII rally driver Jussi Välimäki won Asia-Pasific Rally Championship.
“Rally legend and the famous Finnish rally driver Tommi Mäkinen entered Asia-Pacific Rally Championship at the early 90`s. The rallies he rallied, he gained strength to his rally career. However Mäkinen never won the title. Therefore Jussi Välimäki is the first flying Finnish rally star whose name will be listed in the appreciable FIA Asia-Pacific Champions,” said Hannu Lehtonen, the manager of Jussi Välimäki and continued, “At the same time Jussis` rally career gains strength for season 2006 because the Champion will always be remembered.”
Seeking victory from RallyThailand
At the 3rd weekend of October, 21st-23th the seventh Asia-Pasific Championship rally is being rallyed at famous vacation city called Rayong. There are still two rounds to be rallyed and the final event is in China in November. As Välimäki has secured the Championship before final two rounds it can be said that the season has been an outstanding success for him.
“It`s an interesting feeling to enter the rally without any pressure. We will start the rally only to win it because Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) leader and last event winner Toshihiro Arai must be told whose in order. This is the time and place to win him,” said Välimäki.
Long way to top level of rally sport
You cannot reach the top level of motorsport in just a few seconds nor grow into a Champion in the next seconds. Professional Finnish rally driver Jussi Välimäki has made a long term plan, which has proven to be successful way to WRC-level. His Championship victory has been noticed among the WRC teams and his name is once again in the lists of manufacturer teams.
“Fast-Jussi Välimäki competed some WRC events with WRC-Huyndai during the 2003 season. His goal is to be a World Champion. Asia has now been conquered, would the world be next?” asked co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo.
Rally Thailand starts on Friday, October 21st and the winner will be celebrated on Sunday.

Tags: asia-pacific, finnish, thailand, valimaki,