History Event 1980s

1985 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1985 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Date: August 23–25, 1985

Start Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Finish Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Total Distance: 502 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1985 1000 Lakes Rally showcased Finnish rallying at its finest, smooth gravel roads, massive jumps, and unmatched average speeds. Timo Salonen put on a masterclass in flow and finesse, dominating on home soil with precision and the raw speed of the Peugeot 205 T16. It was a pivotal win in his march toward the world title.

Route

Ouninpohja: Famous for huge jumps and blind crests, one of the most iconic and dangerous stages in rallying.
Laukaa: Smooth, flowing gravel stage with fast technical corners requiring total trust in pace notes.
Ruuhimäki: High-speed stage filled with natural jumps and sweeping corners through dense forest.

Finland’s stages were among the fastest in the world, demanding bravery, perfect notes, and rhythm:

Dry weather provided ideal conditions, but the high speeds left zero room for error, and one missed call could end a rally instantly.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Peugeot 205 T16
2nd Place
Stig Blomqvist & Björn Cederberg · Audi Quattro
3rd Place
Henri Toivonen & Neil Wilson · Lancia Delta S4

Salonen’s win was cheered by thousands of Finnish fans as he pushed the 205 T16 to its limits and beyond, proving unbeatable in his home environment.

Car Highlights

  • Peugeot 205 T16: Light, agile, and blisteringly quick, tailor-made for Finland’s rhythm-based rallying.
  • Audi Quattro: Stable and strong, but less nimble through Finland’s flow-heavy stages.
  • Lancia Delta S4 (testing phase): Early pre-homologation runs showed immense potential for the next generation of Group B competition.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Jump Management: Keeping the car stable over crests while maintaining max throttle required experience and bravery.
  • High Average Speeds: Many stages had averages over 120 km/h, errors were punished severely.
  • Pace Note Trust: Flat-out crests demanded perfect co-driver timing and total driver commitment.

The 1985 1000 Lakes Rally was Salonen’s statement rally, one that combined national pride, technical perfection, and championship-caliber performance.

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