19.5.2012 Mikko Pajunen - Winner of Rally Dell´Adriatico 2012
Rally Dell ´Adriatico was driven in sunny Italy this Weekend. Friday, the first day of the rally Mikko Pajunen and his co-driver Kaj Lindström made fastest times in all of four Special Stages. In the first service it was clear, that Pajunen has found the bliss of driving again.
- It feels good to push in the gravel after a long time. Anyway it has been rather different to what I have previously been driven. A really hard surface, almost like tarmac, the driving style must have been adjusted to it. Also average speeds in the stages are quite high, says Pajunen after two special stages.
- Evo Twingo is new car on the gravel and the car is little tricky to drive. But I´m sure that during the rally we invent some tricks, either for the car or to the driver to get it right, summed Pajunen.
After the first day 2nd place in the R2 class was A. Carella with Twingo R2 Evo. He was 43,0 seconds behind Pajunen. 3rd in the class is A. Nucita with Citroen C2 R2 Max. On Saturday rally continued in the SS5 Castel Saint 'Angelo (18.29km) and it continues to the SS6 Colli del Verdicchio (9.12 km). Both of these special stages were driven three times on Saturday. SS6 were driven as a road section because of the accidents. Which was fine for Pajunen whom car was still tricky to drive.
- Car is still little restless, we are trying to fix it in the service now, said Pajunen in the first service of the day.
Service was a success. Pajunen and Lindström made best times to each of the rest special stages and didn´t give any chance to Italian own boys Nucita and Carella. In the Podium Pajunen and Lindström were absolutely the best of class R2, second was A. Nucita with Citroen S2 2.08.3 behind Pajunen and third A. Carella with Renault Evo Twingo 2.14.3 behind Pajunen. Pajunen is also the winner of Twingo R2 Gordini Trophy in the rally. After the race Pajunen was very pleased to the result, of course
- What you can say, result may spoke of it self, smiled Pajunen. Pajunen and Lindström were in the 10th place in the Rally Del Adriatico overall competition. Next race of the Italian CIR will be driven 14th to 16th of June in Targa Florio
Photo and video: MiHa & JJ
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