20.9.2008 - Jussi Välimäki took silver medal in Finnish Rally Championship series 2008

Flying Finn Jussi Välimäki finished his Finnish Rally Championship campaign by rallying into group-A sixth position at the rally of Mikkeli. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII rally driver with his co-driver Kai Tarkiainen lost the Championship battle to Ford Focus RS WRC driver Ari Vihavainen as in Mikkeli he was quicker than Välimäki.

– Silver medal is OK result when reviewing the things which have happened for us during this summer. I should have driven faster than Vihavainen but we couldn't match our speed for his and therefore we couldn't renew our season 2007 title. After difficult season silver tastes good aswell, told Välimäki.

– During the seven rounds for Finnish Rally Championship I've had priviledge to be co-driven by seven professional co-drivers. We've had lots of fun in all these events. I would like to thank all STC-meat rally team members aswell as sponsors and partners and all people who have been helping me on these difficult times. Now we take a deep breath and enjoy silver medal, Välimäki continued.

SM Vaakuna rally 2008, Mikkeli: Group-A final results:
1. Timo Mäenpää & Carl-Johan Wolff, Skoda Octavia WRC, 46.25;2mins
2. Jukka Ketomäki & Jarkko Alanen, Skoda Octavia WRC, +1,8sek
3. Ari Vihavainen & Asko Sairanen, Ford Focus RS WRC, +3,1sek
4. Jukka Hiltunen & Jarkko Kalliolepo, Ford Focus RS WRC, +5,9sek
5. Seppo Kopra & Matti-Jussi Partanen, Toyota Corolla WRC, +41,2sek
6. Jussi Välimäki & Kai Tarkiainen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, +1.46;1sek

Finnish Rally Championship final standings (7/7 rounds), Group-A, Top-5:
1. Ari Vihavainen, Ford Focus RS WRC, 82 points
2. Jussi Välimäki, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, 77 points
3. Jukka Hiltunen, Ford Focus RS WRC, 65 points
4. Timo Pulkkinen, Subaru Impreza WRX, 33 points
5. Jukka Ketomäki, Skoda Octavia WRC, 32 points