RE: Ari Vatanen: PH Meets
Discussion
mightymouse said:
One of rallying's all time greats 
He is driving on the Rallying with Group B stage in a BMW M3 at Race Retro this weekend
And yes........ I have bought my ticket for Saturday not just for the stage but haven't been for a few years and it looks like a good show for 2017
I am going to be there too. Very much looking forward to seeing him drive.He is driving on the Rallying with Group B stage in a BMW M3 at Race Retro this weekend
And yes........ I have bought my ticket for Saturday not just for the stage but haven't been for a few years and it looks like a good show for 2017
I sat next to him at a sponsors dinner many years ago. Being a sponsors dinner most of the attendees probably didn't even know who he was, so my brother and I sat either side of him. He very politely put up with our constant questioning he must have felt he was at a tennis match! He signed a book for us and took us around a test track in the Ford Cosworth that Total were sponsoring. I've got a picture somewhere of me and him sat in the car ready for my lap! I've not seen much of him since but then if he's into politics I'm not likely to.
Anyway, my point is that he is one of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet. Genuinely decent bloke. And I'm glad he got his farm.
Anyway, my point is that he is one of the nicest people you are ever likely to meet. Genuinely decent bloke. And I'm glad he got his farm.
Awesome article! and by all accounts in this thread he really is an awesome guy too.
Articles like this are a rare treat, thanks PH.
Ahonen said:
Like many here, Ari was also my childhood hero. I was fortunate to meet him in the pit lane just before the start of the Monaco GP a couple of years ago and basically I just wanted to shake his hand, so I told him was my hero when I was a child and he smiled, bowed and said: "It was my absolute pleasure!". Made my season, did that.
...That quote in particular makes him sound like the coolest guy on earth.Articles like this are a rare treat, thanks PH.
binnerboy said:
Whilst it isn't mk2 escorts, which you can still see in historic rallying, have a look at WRC R-GT it is bringing back RWD to the WRC circuit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_R-GT
Ah, the R-GT class. Sounds good, but is in fact another FiA inspired mess. I think the only regular entrants have been Delecour and Dumas.....I don't think any event has got more than 5/6 entries. Should just have gone for current GT3 cars, as there are loads of them.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_R-GT
As for Ari; well utter legend!! The famous incident on the 1976 Scottish Rally remains a favourite.
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Me too and agreed. Met him in Brussels. Some Finnish friends arranged it because they knew I worshipped him. Really nice bloke. We talked a long time about 205s (we both almost killed ourselves in one) and lots of other stuff. My friends who worked in the parliament also said he was one of the few people in the political game (that they knew) who didn't have 2 faces.
Ari Vatanen, the perfect ambassador.
I first saw Ari on the 1976 Tour of Britain in his Escort RS at Mallory Park.
He was leaning inside the car and became aware of someone (me) stood behind him, camera in hand.
He turned round, did his overalls up to the neck and posed relaxed leaning on the door frame.
But it was his consumate skill as driver that impressed equally.
I next saw Ari in person at Autosport and, like your reporter, he just stopped in his tracks when I said hello and we chatted for a good few minutes
I first saw Ari on the 1976 Tour of Britain in his Escort RS at Mallory Park.
He was leaning inside the car and became aware of someone (me) stood behind him, camera in hand.
He turned round, did his overalls up to the neck and posed relaxed leaning on the door frame.
But it was his consumate skill as driver that impressed equally.
I next saw Ari in person at Autosport and, like your reporter, he just stopped in his tracks when I said hello and we chatted for a good few minutes
Tried so many times to meet him as a rally mad teenager, but never did.
Used to work a few mils from Sutton's old workshops off Bollo Lane in Acton, and during that 1981 WDC winning season, at least once a week, I'd drive over to the workshop in lunch hour to hang around on off chance of him being there.
Was never lucky enough.
Fast forward to 1985, and I did my first RAC Rally as a service crew member for a guy in my local motor club, and that could have been the chance but, obviously Ari wasn't driving that years RAC as he'd had his big accident in Argentina earlier in the season (OP wrongly states 1986 as when he had his accident) so never did meet him.
Used to work a few mils from Sutton's old workshops off Bollo Lane in Acton, and during that 1981 WDC winning season, at least once a week, I'd drive over to the workshop in lunch hour to hang around on off chance of him being there.
Was never lucky enough.
Fast forward to 1985, and I did my first RAC Rally as a service crew member for a guy in my local motor club, and that could have been the chance but, obviously Ari wasn't driving that years RAC as he'd had his big accident in Argentina earlier in the season (OP wrongly states 1986 as when he had his accident) so never did meet him.
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