History Event 1970s

1979 Hankiralli (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1979 Hankiralli

Date: March 2–4, 1979

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Snow / Ice

Total Distance: ~1,100 km

Total Starters: Approx. 80 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

The 1979 Hankiralli, or "Snow Rally," was a showcase of Finnish winter rallying, fast forest roads, snowbanks, and razor-sharp pace notes. Ari Vatanen, a snow-driving specialist, paired with Peter Bryant to dominate the event in their Ford Escort RS1800, combining fearless driving with pinpoint precision to deliver a hometown victory.

Route

Forest Sprint Stages: Smooth, flowing snow-covered roads with excellent grip on studded tires.
Frozen Lakes: Flat-out speed tests across icy plains, with minimal margin for error.
Night Loops: Icy descents and quick transitions demanded total confidence in pace notes under headlamp-only visibility.

The route wound through central Finland, with stages around Jyväskylä, Äänekoski, and the snowy lake regions, featuring high-speed packed snow and frozen gravel roads.

Cold and clear winter weather provided ideal snow rally conditions, consistent traction on hard-packed surfaces but punishing consequences for even small mistakes.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Ari Vatanen & Peter Bryant · Ford Escort RS1800
2nd Place
Pentti Airikkala & Risto Virtanen · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Seppo Niittymäki & Jukka Silvasti · Toyota Celica 2000GT

Vatanen’s flat-out style and deep familiarity with Finnish snow conditions earned him the win, while Bryant’s quick, accurate calling helped maximize speed through blind crests and corners.

Car Highlights

  • Ford Escort RS1800: Light and nimble with excellent traction and balance, perfectly suited to Finnish snow.
  • Toyota Celica 2000GT: Strong straight-line pace but more difficult to rotate in tight snow-covered corners.
  • Saab 99 EMS: Stable and durable, but lacking the agility of the Escort on faster flowing sections.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Studded Tire Setup: Required careful heat management to maintain grip over long stages.
  • Snowbanks: Used as cornering aids, but clipping one too hard could rip off suspension or cause rollovers.
  • Speed vs. Precision: Split-second decisions and flawless pace notes were the difference between fastest time and disaster.

The 1979 Hankiralli was a masterclass in winter rallying, Vatanen and Bryant’s performance sealed their status as kings of the snow-covered Finnish stages.

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