History 1970s

1976 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 26th 1000 Lakes Rally

Date: August 27–29, 1976

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~1,600 km

Total Starters: 112 crews

Total Finishers: 56 crews

The 1976 1000 Lakes Rally, Finland’s lightning-fast gravel showcase, pushed drivers and machinery to their absolute limits. Known for massive jumps, blind crests, and technical forest routes, it was a rally where commitment and local knowledge were key. Markku Alén, one of Finland’s fastest men, delivered a home soil win with co-driver Ilkka Kivimäki in the rising Fiat 131 Abarth—cementing his legend among the pines and lakes.

Route

Ouninpohja: Rallying’s most iconic jump-filled stage—flat out and unforgiving.
Laukaa & Vaheri: High-speed flowing gravel sections demanding total confidence and clean lines.
Night Stages: Blistering pace maintained in the dark, with only pacenotes and reflexes to guide the way.

Headquartered in Jyväskylä, the route blasted through central Finland’s forest roads, with high average speeds and famous airborne crests.

Perfect late-summer weather kept the gravel dry and fast, with tall dust trails hanging behind each car across open farmland and forest paths.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Hannu Mikkola & Atso Aho · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Datsun 160J

Alén’s raw speed and commitment across the flying crests, paired with Kivimäki’s flawless pacenotes, gave the Fiat team a breakthrough WRC win in the land of speed and jumps.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Jumps & Crests: Trust in pacenotes was crucial when taking airborne corners and flat-out blind rises.
  • Dust Trails: Clean air meant everything—slower cars were left driving blind in lingering gravel fog.
  • Precision Pacing: Small line errors at high speed often ended in retirements deep in the forest ditches.

The 1976 1000 Lakes Rally was Finnish rallying at its most ferocious—and Alén’s win delivered a homecoming triumph that launched Fiat into championship contention.

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