History 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 pacenotes.
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.

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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