History 1970s

1977 Hankiralli (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1977 Hankiralli

Date: February 18–20, 1977

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Snow

Total Distance: ~1,000 km

Total Starters: Approx. 70 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

The 1977 Hankiralli, or 'Snow Rally', served as another proving ground for Finland’s best winter rally talents. Ari Vatanen, driving the potent Ford Escort RS1800 and co-driven by Atso Aho, put in a relentless and fearless performance on thick snow-packed stages, outpacing a strong domestic and international field to take victory through Finland’s frigid forests.

Route

Jyväskylä Region: Classic Finnish forest routes with rhythmic crests and flat-out straights.
Kouvola Stages: Narrow and technical, with sharp corners bordered by snow-walls.
Night Sections: Icy visibility conditions made accurate lighting and pacenote timing crucial for survival.

Staged across southern and central Finland, the rally featured fast, flowing roads lined with deep snowbanks and icy braking zones.

Cold but stable February weather produced ideal snow rally conditions, with consistent grip for well-prepared studded setups and minimal wind interference.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Ari Vatanen & Atso Aho · Ford Escort RS1800
2nd Place
Simo Lampinen & Juha Piironen · Fiat 131 Abarth
3rd Place
Pentti Airikkala & Seppo Harjanne · Toyota Corolla Levin

Vatanen’s raw speed and aggressive commitment through the snowy stages gave Ford another winter win—and signaled the rising star’s growing threat on the international scene.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Snowbanks: Precision driving allowed use of banks for cornering, but misjudgment led to quick retirements.
  • Freezing Temperatures: Mechanical components faced constant strain from sub-zero air and snow-packed terrain.
  • Pacenote Trust: Flat-out blind crests demanded complete confidence between driver and co-driver.

The 1977 Hankiralli was a classic Finnish snow sprint—and Vatanen’s fearless charge through the powder firmly marked him as a future rally legend.

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