History 1980s

1980 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1980 1000 Lakes Rally

Date: August 29–31, 1980

Host Country: Finland

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: 471.90 km (competitive)

Total Starters: Approx. 120 crews

Total Finishers: 55 crews

The 1980 edition of Finland’s premier rally delivered its trademark high-speed forest roads, massive crests, and blind jumps that test even the bravest drivers. Known for rewarding local knowledge and fearless pace, the 1000 Lakes Rally saw Markku Alén and co-driver Ilkka Kivimäki thrill home fans with a dominant win in their Fiat 131 Abarth, flying through the Finnish countryside with unmatched confidence and control.

Route

Ouninpohja: One of the fastest and most technical rally stages in the world—packed with blind crests and full-throttle corners.
Laukaa & Urria: Sweeping gravel stages with long straights and subtle braking zones requiring total commitment.
Ruuhimäki: Spectator-friendly stage with iconic jumps and fast transitions through narrow pine corridors.

Centered around Jyväskylä in central Finland, the route wound through dense forests, lakeside villages, and rolling farmland at blistering speeds.

Weather remained mostly clear and dry, offering optimal conditions for speed—but dust clouds and split-second decision-making still caused several retirements among the front runners.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Ari Vatanen & David Richards · Ford Escort RS1800
3rd Place
Timo Salonen & Seppo Harjanne · Datsun 160J

Alén’s home mastery was on full display, his wide-open driving style and perfect pacenotes giving him an unassailable lead. Vatanen gave chase with spectacular form, but couldn’t close the gap before the final leg.

Navigation & Challenges

  • High-Speed Jumps: Blind crests required perfect pacenote delivery and absolute confidence in the car’s flight path.
  • Tight Margins: Speeds were so high that even small mistakes could mean instant retirement.
  • Local Expertise: Finnish drivers dominated due to their deep familiarity with the roads and unique driving rhythm required.

The 1980 1000 Lakes Rally was a celebration of Finnish rally heritage—Markku Alén’s aggressive but calculated drive thrilled local fans and strengthened his legacy as one of the great masters of gravel rallying.

← Previous Event 1980 Rally Codasur (Argentina)
Back to Events Index
1980 Motogard Rally of New Zealand (New Zealand) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.