Halttunen took part in the Jari-Pekka Rally in central Finland together with his Jorma J Motorsport team. The rally, driven around Hartola, was the third event of the season behind the wheel for Halttunen, who is better known as Kalle Rovanperä’s co-driver. Earlier, Halttunen had competed in the Jyväskylä Winter Rally and the Kouvola Finnish Championship Rally, but in those events he drove in the role of course car.
In Hartola on Saturday, however, Halttunen measured his pace against national drivers. The Jari-Pekka Rally featured top names from the Historic Rally Trophy series as well as many other drivers with more modern machinery.
“Back in the driver’s seat and it felt amazing! Some good pace, even 5th fastest overall, and one little “ditch adventure” on SS4 – but no damage and full send to the finish. Great learning and hungry for more,” Halttunen said on social media.
“Massive thanks to my co-driver & mechanics for the top work. And the Corolla… pure 10/10.See you at the next one.”
Halttunen competed alongside his co-driver Tuukka Shemeikka in his own Toyota Corolla rally car. After the opening three special stages, the pair were ninth overall, but on stage four the Corolla became stuck in a ditch for almost eight minutes, which ruined their chances of a good result. However, Halttunen impressed by setting the fifth-fastest time on the rally’s final stage.
Victory in the rally eventually went to Mikko Nevalainen, who steered his Renault Clio Rally3 to success, beating Jaro Kinnunen in a Honda Civic by 4.4 seconds.
Halttunen’s main duties in the World Rally Championship continue with the Central European Rally in mid-October. Halttunen and Rovanperä are in the role of chasers in the title fight, as their team-mate Sébastien Ogier, who claimed his fifth win of the season in the previous round in Chile, has pulled 21 points clear.
After the Central European Rally, the WRC season will conclude with rounds in Japan and Saudi Arabia.
