History 1960s

1965 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1965 1000 Lakes Rally (Rally of the Thousand Lakes)

Date: August 13–15, 1965

Start/Finish Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Total Distance: Approximately 2,000 kilometers

Participating Teams: 108 crews

The 1965 edition of the 1000 Lakes Rally cemented its status as the fastest gravel rally in Europe. With countless blind crests, sweeping forest roads, and demanding pace notes, it offered a thrilling challenge that favored Scandinavian expertise and rewarded brave driving. Finnish fans once again saw homegrown heroes dominate on familiar terrain.

Route

Wide Gravel Roads: Cambered and fast, allowing high-speed drifting through corners.
Blind Crests and Jumps: Frequent airborne moments required deep co-driver trust.
Lakeside Stages: Tight and twisty sections bordered by pine forests and water hazards.

Held across central Finland, the rally featured a mix of flowing gravel routes and precise forest stages:

The consistency of the gravel surface combined with Finland’s open layout enabled drivers to push to the limit, making it one of the fastest rallies of the year.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Timo Mäkinen & Paul Easter · Mini Cooper S
2nd Place
Simo Lampinen & Jyrki Ahava · Saab 96
3rd Place
Pauli Toivonen & Ensio Mikander · Citroën DS 21

Mäkinen’s mastery of pace and commitment over jumps gave him a comfortable lead, while Lampinen’s consistency and Toivonen’s control in the DS 21 secured the remaining podium spots.

Navigation & Challenges

The 1965 rally tested reflexes, memory, and discipline as much as raw pace:

  • Blind Jumps: Crest after crest required perfect pacenote delivery from co-drivers.
  • Loose Surface Grip: Drivers had to adapt constantly to changing road wear and dust levels.
  • Fast Recovery: Minor errors could cost valuable seconds or force retirement in narrow, tree-lined sections.

The 1965 1000 Lakes Rally was a masterclass in Finnish rally tradition — a true test of bravery, suspension tuning, and synchronized driving teamwork.

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