Lauri Joona first at Pohjanmaa-rally on 21 May 2023

Jun 8, 2024
2 min read

Lauri Joona drove Seinäjoki to the first overall victory of his career in the rally SM series. And how that victory came! Lauri Joona, driving in his first season in the king class of the Rally SM series, was with his co-driver Tuukka Shemeika at the top of the SM Pohjanmaa Rally right from the first meters of the race. The duo took the lead of the Ostrobothnia Rally on Saturday morning's special stages, and even a slow flat tire on the fifth special stage didn't hinder their progress.

- Good feelings, even if the flat tire is a bit bad. Now put on a good tat for an afternoon run, and it'll be good, Joona said when he came to daycare on Saturday.

Before the last special test, Joona's lead over his second teammate Teemu Asunmaa was 1.8 seconds. Joona showed his skills and speed in the nearly 15-kilometer final special stage, and beat the bottom time by 4 seconds in Asunmaa. In the final results, the difference between the two was 5.8 seconds and the finish line showed a very satisfied debut winner.

- Yes, it feels good, our first big class victory. A little more than expected when we started the race. We knew that the speed was at a good level, but it was a little surprising that it was this good. The clips suited us well and everything else played well. It's almost speechless, said the smiling winner at the finish line.

The current rally season is Lauri Joona's first in the royal class of the Rally SM series (SM1) and in the TGS Škoda Motorsport Suomi team with the Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. In addition to domestic championship competitions, Joona's race calendar includes selected world championship rallies.

- The Portuguese World Cup Rally held a week ago was of great importance. We learned a lot there and were able to use the lessons here right away, even though the road was completely different. Before the next SC rally, we will participate in the Sardinia WC rally at the turn of May-June. Big thanks to all partners and supporters for this opportunity, thanks Joona. After Joona and Asunmaa, Jari Huttunen, who won the previous two SM rallies, came third in the SM Pohjanmaa Rally . In the points table, Asunmaa kept its first place, Joona rose to second thanks to his victory, and Juha Salo dropped to third. The next SM competition, the SM Itäralli, will be held in mid-June around Joensuu.