History 1980s

1987 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1987 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland)

Date: August 28–30, 1987

Start Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Finish Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Total Distance: 416 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1987 1000 Lakes Rally once again delivered a breathtaking mix of high-speed gravel, technical jumps, and flowing rhythm. Finnish hero Markku Alén rose to the occasion, delivering a flawless performance in the Lancia Delta HF 4WD. With blinding pace over familiar territory, he mastered the crests and corners to claim a convincing win on home soil, to the delight of thousands of rally fans who lined the forest roads of Central Finland.

Route

Ouninpohja: The ultimate driver’s stage—full of jumps, long straights, and hidden crests demanding trust in pacenotes.
Laukaa: Flowing rhythm-based route with loose gravel, ideal for cars with good suspension travel and precise steering.
Ruuhimäki: Known for its massive final-stage jump and fast finish—both a fan favorite and a setup challenge.

Finland’s iconic stages featured flat-out confidence driving and total commitment:

Dry weather allowed for clean visibility and optimal grip across the event, encouraging maximum-attack driving throughout.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Markku Alén & Ilkka Kivimäki · Lancia Delta HF 4WD
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Mazda 323 4WD
3rd Place
Hannu Mikkola & Arne Hertz · Audi 200 Quattro

Alén’s victory was his fifth in Finland and a definitive reminder of his unmatched pace on home soil—made even more meaningful during Lancia’s ongoing Group A dominance.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Blind Crests: Memorization and perfect pacenote calling were essential on Finland’s high-speed jumps and corners.
  • Air Time Management: Improper jump landings could unsettle the car and ruin stage rhythm or worse—end a rally early.
  • Local Pressure: Finnish drivers were expected to perform flawlessly on home ground—Alén delivered in style.

The 1987 1000 Lakes Rally was a celebration of speed, spectacle, and national pride—Alén’s dominant drive stood tall as one of the season’s finest displays of Group A skill.

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