6.9.2012 Mikko Pajunen invited by Renault to tarmac rally in France
Mikko Pajunen will drive in the tarmac event of the French Rally Championship over the weekend. The Finn from Jyväskylä was invited by Renault Sport to participate in the Rallye Mont-Blanc. He will drive in Renault Clio R3, the same kind of car that amazed even the experts in the Rally Finland last year.
- I got really lucky. They called and asked if I wanted to drive. No need to bring money, just to bring myself and my co-driver. I didn´t refuse, says smiling Pajunen.
Pajunen will race with his regular co-driver Kaj Lindström. The rally takes place in the east of France near the Swiss and Italian borders. Pajunen is already familiar with working with Renault. This season he has been driving in the Twingo Cup in Italy. He has won his category three times.
- The car in France is supplied by the same Renaults Italian team Gima Autosport. We did testing on Monday and it felt really good. Really good. This will give us more experience on tarmac in a more powerful car, says Pajunen.
The rallies abroad force Pajunen to miss out the last Finnish Championship event of the season. Pajunen drove the first four Finnish events in a four-wheel drive Subaru. He is still third in the overall standings. However he is concentrating on the foreign rallies for the rest of the season.
- During the last Finnish Championship event we will be in Ukraine for the IRC event. There we will be driving in Ford Fiesta S2000. It was a conscious choice to concentrate on the tarmac rallies, emphasises Pajunen.
Text Miiro Koivula
Live results Rallye Mont-Blanc
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