History 1970s

1976 Hankiralli (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1976 Hankiralli

Date: March 5–7, 1976

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Snow / Ice

Total Distance: ~1,000 km

Total Starters: Approx. 75 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

The 1976 Hankiralli, or “Snow Rally,” was one of Finland’s premier winter events outside the WRC calendar. Held across thickly forested, snow-draped roads, it provided the ultimate test of vehicle control and cold-weather endurance. Rally veteran Simo Lampinen, partnered with co-driver Seppo Harjanne, piloted the brand-new Fiat 131 Abarth to its first significant international win—proving the car’s potential in the toughest Nordic conditions.

Route

Lakeside Stages: Wide frozen sections with incredible grip from studded tires—top speeds rivaling gravel events.
Forest Sections: Narrow, winding roads flanked by deep snowbanks with little margin for error.
Night Loops: Bitter cold and limited visibility made lighting, timing, and crew stamina essential to success.

The rally route featured fast, flowing snow-covered roads in central and northern Finland, designed to reward bravery, traction management, and local terrain knowledge.

Although the event was held late in the snow season, road conditions remained optimal for winter rallying thanks to consistent subzero temperatures.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Simo Lampinen & Seppo Harjanne · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Timo Salonen & Voitto Silander · Datsun 160J
3rd Place
Ari Vatanen & David Richards · Ford Escort RS1800

Lampinen’s smooth style, combined with Harjanne’s clear calls and Fiat’s well-balanced setup, gave the 131 Abarth a stunning victory on snow—solidifying its reputation in development ahead of full WRC deployment.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbank Precision: Clipping snowbanks could help rotate the car—but hitting one wrong meant instant retirement.
  • Cold-Weather Reliability: Carburetor freezing and visibility issues plagued unprepared crews.
  • Night Strategy: Early morning and late-night loops pushed both co-driver timing and driver energy to their limits.

The 1976 Hankiralli proved to be a proving ground for the Fiat 131 Abarth and a swan song for snow-specialist Simo Lampinen—both executing a flawless victory against Finland’s winter wilderness.

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