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Tommi Mäkinen and Kaj Lindström join Mikko Pajunen´s team, The Finn continues in four-wheel drive Subaru

Mikko Pajunen starts the Finnish Rally Championship in an interesting situation. Two previous years the Finn has build up his career in the British championship, but now he makes the transitions to four-wheel drive turbocharged cars and concentrates fully on the Finnish championship.

Pajunen has managed to add some famous names to his team. His co-driver will be Kaj Lindström, who has driven in the WRC with drives such as Tommi Mäkinen and Kimi Räikkönen. The car is Tommi Mäkinen Racing´s Subaru Impreza, whose official model name is WRX STi R4 TMR.

- I´m feeling very good. The equipment are top class. I don´t want to talk about the goals. Lets first see how the four-wheel drive will behave under me and get some competitive kilometers under our belts. Of course we want to do well and finish high, thinks Pajunen.

The previous two seasons Pajunen has driven in front-wheel drive cars. During the winter he has been introduced to the tricks of Subaru by Tommi Mäkinen.

- Tommi has been a great help. He has been with me in the tests and showed a few things and helped with setting up the chassis, tells Pajunen.

Pajunen´s Subaru Impreza complies with the new R4 classification. The car is slightly more competative than the traditional gr.N cars. The changes are obvious in driving.

- There is a big difference in the chassis. The car is a little bit lighter, and therefore better to drive. The traction is also better, so in the corners it turns easier, explains Pajunen.

The addition of experienced Lindström as the co-drivers brings more vision to the cockpit.

- The pacenotes are like they were before, but of course he has his own opinions and views on things. It´s been a pleasure to work with him so far. He has a lot to offer, thinks Pajunen.

In addition to the Finnish championship, the Pajunen-Lindström duo has their eyes on WRC events. One has already been confirmed: the registration documents for the Swedish Rally have already been sent.

The Finnish rally season starts on Saturday in Riihimäki, where there are eight stages. In previous years the season has started in the Arctic Circle with Arctic Lapland Rally, but this year the teams travel to Lapland at the end of January.

Text: Miiro Koivula