Kankkunen tightens grip on rally drivers’ title

Press, 9 July 1986, Page 64

Kankkunen tightens grip on rally drivers’ title

PA Auckland Juha Kankkunen, of Einland, tightened his grip on the world drivers’ championship when he led the New Zealand international motor tally into Auckland last night. Kankkunen completed the four-day AWA Clarion event in his turbo-charged Peugeot Imin 40s ahead of his compatriot, Markku Alen, and now leads the championship by 44 points.

Alen moves to second in the title race after a gritty performance which faded only at the end.

The lead Lancia driver had little left with which to fight Kankkunen, who took charge on the twisting gravel roads of the King Country and Waikato yesterday. Kankkunen began the final leg in confident

mood, and it showed. He won the opening four special stages — won by 34 seconds — to widen the gap between himself and Alen.

The 27-year-old later described his victory as his hardest.

"It was just a couple of seconds difference nearly all the way. It was a hell of a fight. You can believe that it was hard work.”

The Peugeot 205 Tl 6 ran perfectly throughout and could have coped with a late challenge from Alen.

Kankkunen said he had refused to ease the pace, despite his obvious superiority yesterday afternoon.

Massimo Biasion, of Italy, and Mikael Ericsson, of Sweden, fulfilled their Lancia back-up duties admirably to finish third and fourth respec-

tively. The world champion, Timo Salonen, drove hard after a long delay on the first day to fill fifth in the second Peugeot. Neil Allport’s sixth placing gave him the honour of being the top New Zealander.

After six attempts — and failures — he had finally succeeded.

The Karaka Mazda RX7 driver was elated: “It is really great to be here,” he said, soaked in champagne, courtesy of his codriver, Rodger Freeth.

“The car went very well. The only problem was that I kept bashing it around a bit.

“I think I probably drove a bit more conservatively this year. I was not driving off the wall like I probably have

done. We were playing a percentage game, trying to finish but also to win.” Results.— Juha Kankkunen/Juha Piironen (Finland), Peugeot 205, shr 43mln 455, 1; Markku Alen/Ilkka Kilimaki (Finland), Lancia Delta, shr 45min 255, 2; Massimo Biasion/Tiziano Sivjero (Italy), Lancia Delta, shr 53min 365, 3; Mikael Ericsson/Claes Billstam (Sweden), Lancia Delta, shr 57min 375, 4; Timo Salonen/Seppo Harjanne (Finland), Peugeot 205, 6hr 16min 365, 5; Neil Allport/ Rodger Freeth (New Zealand), Mazda RX7, 6hr 27min 275, 6; Kenneth Eriksson (Sweden)/Peter Diekmann (Germany), VW Golf, 6hr 34min 225, 7; Paddy Davidson/Mike Carmichael (New Zealand), Nissan 240 RS, 6hr 36min 18s, 8; Reg Cook/ Wayne Jones (New Zealand), Nissan 240 RS, 6hr 38min 12s. 9; Rod Millen/John Bellefleur (USA/Canada), Mazda 323, 6hr 40min 03s, 10.