1.2.2025 - Mikko Eskelinen had a thrilling competition against Jari-Matti Latvala in Arctic Lapland Rally - Thrilling battle was decided in snow blizzard of final 32kms stage
In season 2007 Flying Finn Mikko Eskelinen, age of 52, introduced himself to rallying and entered his first-ever Arctic Lapland Rally. Now in season 2025 edition of the rally he and his co-driver Arto Kapanen, age of 61, drove one of their best-ever rally. Since 2012 the duo has been driven in various Finnish Rally Championship events and how in 60th Arctic Lapland Rally they were rewarded by 2nd position in WRC-group and 7th position in overall classifications.
In their carees Eskelinen has driven the Arctic Lapland Rally now 19 times and Kapanen 28 times. The season 2025 edition of the rally included 13 special stages and 215,34 special stage kilometres. During the highly intense Arctic adventure Eskelinen and Kapanen had a thrilling competition against Toyota Gazoo Racing team manager Jari-Matti Latvala and his co-driver Janni Hussi, who are preparing for Historic European Rally Championship series.
In first competition day Ford Fiesta RS WRC drivers drove the stages 12,9 seconds faster than Latvala. However in morning loop of the second day Latvala was able to reduce the gap to 3,3 seconds until he was forced to back off due technical issues he encountered with his Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD. After colourful evening Eskelinen and Kapanen collect silver position by 26,8 seconds gap.
- It was a thrilling experience to follow the tracks by two times World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä and his team manager Jari-Matti Latvala and then in second day we draw the lines to them. For us the first day was a trouble-free. However second day was not so good as we spun three times and hit many snow banks in snow blizzard. Fortunately we managed to deliver the car to finish, Eskelinen tells.
- The final 32kms stage was absolutely the trickiest I've ever driven in my 19 years rally career. Jari-Matti Latvala was close behind and snow blizzard in front of us. It took two minutes more the drive the stage than in first pass when the stage was clear of loose snow. Furthermore as we spun and was were nearly about to get stuck in the snow bank I was pretty sure at the finish of the stage that Latvala would have been passed us. However he also suffered same difficult conditions and therefore we were very happy for the 2nd position in WRC-group and 7th position in overall standings, Eskelinen continues.
60th Arctic Lapland Rally was also a thrilling competition against new and young rally star Tuukka Kauppinen, age of 18, and season 2012 Finnish Rally Champion and professional rally driver Esapekka Lappi, age of 34. After morning loop of the second rally day Tuukka Kauppinen was leading the rally by four seconds to Lappi. However as Lappi missed the braking point in one junction, Kauppinen was able to win the rally by its' youngest driver ever. Kalle Rovanperä drove the rally with new WRC-tyre Hankook which had smaller stud than in the tyre Kauppinen used. For the whole rally Rovanperä tacked with less grip and therefore he was second fastest with 11,5 seconds gap to winner Tuukka Kauppinen.
Final results 60. Arctic Lapland Rally 2025, Rovaniemi, Overall: top-3:
1. Tuukka Kauppinen & Sebastian Virtanen, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, 1:52:16,4
2. Kalle Rovanperä & Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Yaris Rally1, +11,5s (1st in WRC-group)
3. Esapekka Lappi & Enni Mälkönen, Skoda Fabia R5 EVO, +38,1s
--- 7. Mikko Eskelinen & Arto Kapanen, Ford Fiesta RS WRC, +4:41,8s (2nd in WRC-group)
8. Jari-Matti Latvala & Janni Hussi, Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD, +5:08,6s (3rd in WRC-group)
