The summer season of the Finnish Rally Championship (FRC) series kicks off with the Länsirannikko Rally, the fourth round of the national championship, held around Turku.
As usual, rally fans are especially eager to follow the performance of young sensation Tuukka Kauppinen. The 18-year-old prospect’s season has seen various ups and downs. He started strong by winning the opening round, the Arctic Lapland Rally in Rovaniemi, but has since faced challenges.
Kauppinen crashed out of the Savonlinna round in March, and in his European outings, he’s made some costly mistakes. Nevertheless, he remains the most talked-about name in the Finnish championship.
But the Finnish Championship series itself is also more compelling than it’s been in years. In addition to Kauppinen, seasoned WRC driver Esapekka Lappi is also competing this season. The presence of names like Lappi and Kauppinen elevates both the interest and the level of the championship.
“I think it’s absolutely brilliant. The series is now back at a level where, if you can win here, you can succeed internationally,” said experienced rally driver Teemu Suninen in an interview with RallyJournal.com.
“It’s great to see top names and professionals on the start line again. The biggest benefit is for the young drivers – they get to see what level they need to reach if they aim for the world stage. It’s a really great thing, especially for Finnish rallying,” Suninen added.
Suninen, who has competed extensively in the WRC, knows Kauppinen well – he has even been involved in coaching the young talent.
“Tuukka is a very credible prospect,” Suninen stated.
“He’s already produced some results, so he’s not just a ‘prospect’ anymore. I think we can start mentioning his name alongside the top drivers,” he praised.
Kauppinen, backed by Rautio Motorsport, has been guided through a carefully planned career path. Even from an outsider’s perspective, the groundwork seems thorough and well thought out.
“They’ve done the basics really well, and Tuukka certainly knows how to handle the car. What I appreciate is that they work hard behind the scenes instead of just talking. Even his pacenotes showed that the foundations have been properly built. Of course, there’s still room for improvement, especially when stepping onto the international stage,” Suninen pointed out.
“But that’s normal – we simply don’t have the same kinds of corners here in Finland that you find abroad. So, it’s impossible to train for everything, but that will come with time in the coming weeks and months. If that development continues, Tuukka definitely has the potential to reach the top of the world,” Suninen concluded.
Suninen knows from experience what it takes to reach the highest level. Timing and being in the right place at the right time are crucial – something Kauppinen must also keep in mind.
“There’s still a journey ahead to reach the top, and he’ll probably need another year or two of rallying under his belt. Rallying is a sport of experience. The road won’t be easy by any means, but Tuukka certainly has the potential,” Suninen believes.
Esapekka Lappi is another highly intriguing figure in this year’s FRC series. His name alone helps sell tickets. Toyota team principal and the WRC’s most experienced driver, Jari-Matti Latvala, was thrilled to hear of Lappi’s return to the national championship.
“I think it’s great that EP came to race in the FRC series. It’s quite rare for a driver to return to the national level after a professional career,” Latvala told RallyJournal.com.
“EP is a great benchmark for young drivers, and I’m sure it’s very motivating for them to compete against him,” he added.
Like Suninen, Latvala is also enthusiastic about Kauppinen. He believes the youngster boosts interest in the sport among the next generation of drivers.
“When we have a young talent like that in the series, it’s definitely a great thing for the FRC – and it will surely inspire new drivers to take up the sport.”
The Länsirannikko Rally kicks off today, Friday. The competition will conclude on Saturday evening.
