Finland
Championship leader Jari Ketomaa - Subaru Impreza N14 won this season’s first summer time rally in Finland, the Waltikka Rally, ahead of Juha Salo’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. As Jussi Valimaki has missed the event, third place was taken by Kristian Sohlberg – Subaru Impreza N14. Joni Nikko – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX finished forth in front of Kosti Katajamaki – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. In the overall classification Ketomaa has a total of 61 points, followed by Valimaki with 37, Juha Salo 36 and Sohlberg and Katajamaki with 30 points.



Norway
It all worked well! Mads Ostberg and new codriver Jonas Andersson won the Aurskog Holand Rally in Norway, with Adapta teammate Anders Grondahl and Maria Andersson second, both in old model Subaru World Rally Cars. Eyvind Brynildsen withdrew after a puncture, Andreas Mikkelsen was third in a Subaru Cup car. Mads and Jonas used this event for familiarization before they tackle the Acropolis.

Austria
One more success for German driver Hermann Gassner Junior. He won the Austrian Castrol Rally in his Evo IX while his father finished forth. Manfred Stohl’s Mitsubishi was top CNG fuelled car being placed sixth overall and Michal Kogler’s new VW Scirocco finished second in the diesel category. Favourite Raimund Baumschlager, at the wheel of the Skoda Fabia S2000 normally rallied by Patrik Sandell, withdrew after taking the wrong route on a stage. In the overall classification Baumschlager has a total of 57 points, followed by Stohl with 43 and Waldherr with 37 points.

America
Swedish PCWRC challenger Patrik Sandell and codriver Emil Axelsson had a short visit to the Susquehannock Trails Rally in Pennsylvania, fifth round in the Rally America series. Their Subaru Impreza retired on the first stage with engine problems. Subarus of Ken Block and Travis Pastrana finished first and second.

Poland
Leszek Kuzaj – Peugeot 207 Super 2000 emerged from retirement and survived engine problems to win the national championship Lotos Baltic Cup Rally, the last major rally in Poland before the country’s world championship event, at the wheel of a Subaru Impreza N14. Second place was Bryan Bouffier – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX at 24,5 seconds from the winner. Michal Solowow – Peugeot 207 Super 2000 who currently leads the FIA European championship, only finished fifth.

Portugal
Peugeot 207 cars finished 1-2 on the FC Porto Rally, fourth round of the Portuguese national championship, an event which used the Fafe stages in the north of the country popularised by the WRC event in earlier years. Bruno Magalhaes beat Vitor Pascoal. This was Peugeot Portugal team’s fiftieth rally victory.

Other news
Belgian Dominique Bruyneel won the French gravel championship Rallye Terre du Diois in his Subaru Impreza World Rally Car.

Full entry of 150 crews and reserves have been accepted for the Topaz Donegal Rally, Ireland’s popular midsummer asphalt rally (20-21 June). Around fifty of these entries are classic rear drive Ford Escorts. There is also an official Historic car section a well. Many route changes are planned for this year’s event.

3mmm
photo: Jari Ketomaa - Subaru Impreza N14