History 1970s

1977 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 27th 1000 Lakes Rally

Date: August 26–28, 1977

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~1,450 km

Total Starters: Approx. 110 crews

Total Finishers: 47 crews

The 1977 1000 Lakes Rally delivered the high-speed gravel action fans expected from Finland’s premier motorsport event. With fast flowing roads, massive jumps, and demanding crests, the rally favored those who could stay committed over blind sections at full throttle. Kyösti Hämäläinen, partnered with Antero Kjäldman, put in a flawless performance in the Ford Escort RS1800—securing a popular home win and reinforcing Finland’s dominance on their native gravel stages.

Route

Ouninpohja: Legendary stage featuring long straights, rolling jumps, and tight crests taken at full speed.
Laukaa and Ruuhimäki: Narrow gravel tracks with dense trees, shallow dips, and massive commitment zones.
Päijänne Loops: Longer, sweeping roads with perfect gravel surface and natural flow demanding precise weight transfers.

The rally was based around Jyväskylä in central Finland, with stages darting through forests, lakeside paths, and undulating farmland tracks known for speed and rhythm.

Late summer conditions brought dry, fast roads with loose gravel on top—ideal for those who could 'float' the car and lean on experience through crests and braking points.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Kyösti Hämäläinen & Antero Kjäldman · Ford Escort RS1800
2nd Place
Timo Mäkinen & Henry Liddon · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 131 Abarth

Hämäläinen’s local knowledge and flawless pace on the flowing gravel roads gave him a clear edge over the WRC regulars, showing the depth of Finnish rallying talent beyond the top-tier names.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Blind Crests and Jumps: Commitment over unseen terrain required deep pacenote trust and rhythm between driver and co-driver.
  • Loose Gravel: High speeds made it difficult to recover from sliding wide—shallow ditches and trees punished small mistakes.
  • Stage Repetition: Precision was critical on repeated loops where braking zones and ruts deepened over time.

The 1977 1000 Lakes Rally was a high-speed spectacle—and Hämäläinen’s brilliant win confirmed him as a local master of one of the world’s most thrilling rally stages.

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