21.2.2010 - Disqualification caused Vesa Hirvonen to lose his 2nd position in FRC Vaakuna Rally

Season 2008 Finnish Rally Championship silver medalist Vesa Hirvonen experienced huge enjoyment and major dissapointment in FRC Vaakuna Rally which were driven in the region of Mikkeli. Hirvonen was in control of third round of Finnish Rally Championship SM2 and Youngsters class.

- In first stage of the event we manage to collect fastest special stage time by 11 seconds gap. I was also to make another fastest special stage time in fourth stage and I led the rally by 3,7 seconds in second service of the day, told experienced Honda Civic Type-R driver.

- Fifth special stage took all chances for victory as on the start of the stage I noticed that the engine provided us only 4000 RPM. After the stage I was able to repair the damaged throttle problem but I lost 48 seconds on that insident, shared Hirvonen his setback.

Hirvonen drove fastest special stage times in two final stages but the difference for the winner Kalle Pinomäki was left 24 seconds.

Besides 2nd position in Finnish Rally Championship event Vesa Hirvonen was fastest in Youngsters Finnish Rally Championship series by over a minute gap.

Disqualification due missing piece of plate

Flying Finn Vesa Hirvonen and his co-driver Jani Salo were very satisfied for their speed. However in post-event scruteneering Hirvonen Rally Racing drivers suffered a major dussapointment when officials found how one piece of plate were missing from the rally car. It was removed in previous re-build of the car.

Jury of the event consided the disqualification and the protest Hirvonen made for over four hours. Eventually final decision were made nearly five hours after podium.

- In previous re-build of the car the original attachement plates of seats were removed. According Finnish rally regulations those plates can be curved and re-shaped but not removed. Therefore Jury decided to disqualify me, told very dissapointed Hirvonen.

- At the moment my feelings are not so good because a small mistake in re-build didn't have any result for the performance of the car or the drivers. This disqualification was a major setback for us in our campaign at Finnish Rally Championship series.

Hirvonen Rally Racing car service team, PrintSport Racing and its' chief engineer mr. Eero Räikkönen were also very dissapointed.

- I personally think that the officials should have given a written notification instead of disqualification, Räikkönen wondered.