Finnish rally legend Hanno Mikkola died yesterday at the age of 78.
Hannu began competing in his home country in 1963, coming to the attention of the wider motorsport world in 1968 when, as a young student, he appeared in 'The Flying Finns', a film documenting the 1000 Lakes Rally, part of the 1968 European Rally Championship (the WRC didn't exist until 1973), which he went on to win an astonishing 7 times.
Hannu went on to be the first overseas driver to win the East African Safari Rally in 1973, going on to win 17 more WRC events...the last being the Safari Rally again in 1987. He won our own RAC Rally four times...in 1978 and 1979 in a Ford Escort RS, and in 1981 and 1982 in the Audi Quattro he was probably most remembered for.
Hannu switched to Mazda in 1987, with more limited success in the 323 Turbo until entering semi-retirement in 1991.
Despite this, Hannu also managed a season in 1993 driving both the Subaru Legacy WRC and Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD.
As well as his conventional rallying success, Hannu also won the fabled 1970 World Cup London-Mexico City Rally in a Mk1 Escort....then went back and won it again 25 years later!
A quiet, laconic character out of a car, but an absolute master inside it.....and a fantastic ambassador for motorsport.
Hannu Olavi Mikkola
24th May 1942-26th February 2021
Rest In Peace.
Hannu began competing in his home country in 1963, coming to the attention of the wider motorsport world in 1968 when, as a young student, he appeared in 'The Flying Finns', a film documenting the 1000 Lakes Rally, part of the 1968 European Rally Championship (the WRC didn't exist until 1973), which he went on to win an astonishing 7 times.
Hannu went on to be the first overseas driver to win the East African Safari Rally in 1973, going on to win 17 more WRC events...the last being the Safari Rally again in 1987. He won our own RAC Rally four times...in 1978 and 1979 in a Ford Escort RS, and in 1981 and 1982 in the Audi Quattro he was probably most remembered for.
Hannu switched to Mazda in 1987, with more limited success in the 323 Turbo until entering semi-retirement in 1991.
Despite this, Hannu also managed a season in 1993 driving both the Subaru Legacy WRC and Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD.
As well as his conventional rallying success, Hannu also won the fabled 1970 World Cup London-Mexico City Rally in a Mk1 Escort....then went back and won it again 25 years later!
A quiet, laconic character out of a car, but an absolute master inside it.....and a fantastic ambassador for motorsport.
Hannu Olavi Mikkola
24th May 1942-26th February 2021
Rest In Peace.
