The news that Mikko Hirvonen has been chosen to join Banbury's Subaru World Rally Team marks a stunning hat-trick for the coaching methods of Pentti Airikkala.
Hirvonen will be joined in the 2004 FIA World Rally Championship by two of Airikkala's youngest pupils, Jarri-Matti Latvala, of Finland, and Conrad Rautenbach, of Zimbabwe, both of whom will drive Ford's new Fiesta rally car in the Junior World Championship.
Hirvonen, 23, came to prominence in top-class rallying soon after he invested in a series of individual coaching sessions with Airikkala, who taught him the latest driving techniques, the best pacenote system and gave him lessons on how best to set up various different cars.
Airikkala said: "There are two qualities which cannot be taught to motorsport drivers: a feel for the car, which requires a sensitive body, and an aggressive approach, which basically requires the driver to be a very bad loser. Luckily, these three had both those qualities and I was able to help with everything else."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article