Lauri Joona third in Rally Finland - "Legendary"

Lauri Joona and Janni Hussi finished third in the WRC2 class of the World Rally Championship in Jyväskylä.

Lauri Joona, competing with the TGS Motorsport team's Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 car had set his home World Championship rally, Secto Rally Finland as his main goal for the season. Competing in the WRC2 class of the World Rally Championship for the first time, the driver from Sastamala has together with his co-driver Janni Hussi achieved one podium finish in the previous races of the season and the duo had also set their sights on the podium in Jyväskylä.

Central Finland's fast gravel roads are notoriously demanding. This year the difficulty factor was increased by the weather when heavy rain showers made the roads slippery and soft. In addition, mud and loose stones gave the route its own additional spice. After Friday's nine special stages, Joona who was in sixth place, lamented the conditions, but was partly also satisfied with his performance.

- Friday was demanding and at times it was difficult for us to find the right rhythm. At times we were able to become quite model-like. Sometimes it felt like nothing would come of it, when there was traction and then it wasn't, said Joona during the evening's maintenance.

"On the Saturday of legends" was run, e.g. Ouninpohja which made a comeback and Joona's own favorite special stage, Päijälä. During the first run, Joona and Hussi drove convincingly and by the time they entered the daycare, the ranking had risen to fourth. When the same special stages were run again, the ranking had risen by one more.

- Saturday was a really good day. We got a good rhythm going and had some good lap times. It then carried far, and at the end of the day, we came in third. And those clips on Saturday were something truly legendary, beamed Joona.

Sunday's script was clear: keep the ranking in the top three. Mikko Heikkilä challenged Joona to a fight for third place but the Sastamala native held his ground. When all 20 special stages had been run, the difference in Joona's favor was 2.6 seconds. This is how Lauri Joona and Janni Hussi got to the top three of the podium at the award ceremonies organized in the Port of Jyväskylä.

- Great rally in every way! We got a good placement, have to be satisfied! There were some very nice sections especially Saturday's combo Västilä-Päijälä-Ouninpohja is surely every rally driver's dream. Very good feelings and big thanks to the co-driver, team and all partners and supporters, thanks Joona.

Oliver Solberg won the WRC2 class and Jari-Matti Latvala took second place. Lauri Joona was third, in the WRC2 Challenger series Joona was first. Joona and Hussi finished seventh in the general competition.