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	Teiskosten rallihistoria: Vuosi 2005 - ensimmäinen MM-kausi Vuosi 2004 - vaiherikas kausi Vuosi 2003 - näyttöjä tulevaa kautta varten Vuosi 2002 - A-Juniorina Vuosi 2001 - kausi alkoi lupaavasti			Teiskosten kausi 2004 Teiskosen veljesten ensimmäinen varsinainen oppivuosi on takana ja vaiherikas kausi on päätöksessään. On tullut aika kertailla vuoden tapahtumia vähän joka kantilta katsellen. Tiivis kilpailuohjelma onnistuttiin viemään lävitse sovitulla tavalla, joskin pienin muutoksin. Italiassa Subaru Cupin kisat ajettiin ohjelman mukaisesti. Osa Englannin avoimen mestaruus-sarjan kisoista jätettiin ajamatta, koska avautui mahdollisuuksia osallistua tärkeämpiin koitoksiin ja päätökseen vaikutti myös kisojen päällekkäisyys. Vuoteen mahdutettiin myös yksi kisavauhtinen kokeilu WRC- autolla. Subaru Cup Subaru Cupissa koettiin menestyksen hetkiä, mutta mukaan mahtuu myös harmittavia takaiskuja. Neliveto autolla ensimmäistä kertaa vaativaan sarjaan osallistuminen ei lähtökohtaisesti ole temppu helpoimmasta päästä. Tutustuminen uuden auton tekniikkaan sekä sillä ajaminen vaati panostusta ja paneutumista, eikä tätä taustaa vastaan ollut realistista ladata menestyksen suhteen ylisuuria odotuksia. Aki kykeni omaksumaan uuden auton niksit nopeasti ja oli koko sarjan ajan viiden nopeimman kuljettajan joukossa. Yksi kakkostila, yksi kolmas ja kaksi neljättä sijaa ovat tästä hyvänä osoituksena. Miinus puolelle on laskettava kaksi harmittavaa ulosajoa, joissa molemmissa auto säilyi täysin ehjänä, mutta pehmeä hiekka ei antanut periksi ja matkanteko jäi kesken. Lopputuloksena sarjassa oli viiden tila, joka ensikertalaiselle nelivetokuskille on huomion arvoinen sijoitus. Lisäksi hyvät pätkäajat sekä erinomaiset yleiskilpailusijoitukset on noteerattava. Englannin avoin Englannissa kausi alkoi hyvin ja kaikissa siellä ajetuissa kisoissa nähtiin vauhdin riittävän aivan terävimpään kärkeen. Heti kauden ensimmäisessä kilpailussa tuli voitto Citroenin Saxo 1600 Kit Carin ratissa. Aki osoitti taitonsa ja sopeutumis-kykynsä Englannin ralli-ilmastoon kukistamalla kanssakilpailijansa varsin selvästi. Sarja ei kuitenkaan jatkunut yhtä onnekkaasti, seuraavassa kisassa tuli keskeytys. Kolmas Englannissa ajettu ralli päättyi luokan viidennelle tilalle tekniikka murheiden kera. Viimeinen Englannissa ajettu kilpailu johti keskeytykseen ulosajon vuoksi. Sarjan viimeiset kisat jätettiin väliin vaativampien haasteiden astuessa kuvaan. WRC Heinäkuussa Aki pääsi ensimmäistä kertaa WRC- auton ohjaimiin. Muutaman kymmenen kilometrin testin jälkeen veljekset kilpailivat Eestin mestaruussarjaan kuuluvassa RS Rallyssa Otepäällä. Jari Latvalan vanhalla Corollalla ajamassaan rallissa Aki piteli tiukoilla kanssakilpailijoitaan ja yleiskilpailussa vain Jouni Ampuja ehti hänen edelleen huomattavasti modernimmalla kalustolla. Kokeilu onnistui kiittävin arvosanoin ja kisan jälkeen Aki loisti tyytyväisyyttään. Tämän viikonlopun jälkeen Aki odottaakin kovalla innolla seuraava mahdollisuutta ajaa WRC-autoa kisakuvioissa. MM-rallit Vuoteen mahtui myös kaksi MM-starttia Super 1600 luokassa. Molempiin ralleihin veljekset osallistuivat italialaisen Hi-Tec ralliteamin Fiat Puntolla. Kotoiseen Neste Rallyyn elokuussa oli ladattu paljon odotuksia, mutta pieni, joskin riittävä, tekninen vika keskeytti matkateon jo rallin ensimmäisenä päivänä. Moottorin öljynsuodattimen jalan katkeaminen hypyssä Mökkiperällä päätti kisan tällä kertaa. Matka oli edennyt keskeytykseen saakka suunnitellulla tavalla, sillä ensimmäinen tavoite oli tulla maaliin, jossa voitaisiin sitten tarkastella sijoitusta. Sardiniassa ajetussa Italian MM-rallissa kaikki sujui suunnitellusti. Maltillinen eteneminen ilman suurempia murheita johti hyvään sijoitukseen. Akin venymiskyky tiukoissa tilanteissa pääsi esiin ja hän hallitsi tilanteen hyvin, eikä sortunut yltiöpäiseen yrittämiseen, vaikka vauhdissa olisi ollutkin parantamisen varaa. Oli tärkeää tehdä ehjä suoritus ja näin maksimoida tarjolla olleet kokemukset ja kuitata niistä saatava hyöty. Tällä kaudella Sardiniassa kuten Suomessakin oli mukana myös Junior WRC- luokka, joten vertailukohtia omalle vauhdille oli riittämiin. Kovassa seurassa Italian MM-rallissa ajettu yhdeksäs tila on hieno suoritus. Kauden saldo Kokonaisuutena ottaen kilpailukausi olin joka suhteessa lähes kullan arvoinen. Kuten olette raporteistamme voineet seurata, vuoden aikana on sattunut ja tapahtunut monenmoista. Tulevaisuutta ajatellen näistä saatua hyötyä ei voida korvata millään. Ajaminen erilaisilla autoilla, tutustuminen olosuhteisiin, toiminen erilaisissa kulttuureissa erilaisten ihmisten kanssa sekä suhteiden luominen korkeimmalle tasolle saakka on mahdollista vain tekemällä ja olemalla itse mukana. Pyrkimys ammattilaisuuteen vaatii kovaa henkistä ja aineellista panostusta, eikä mitään rakenneta valmiiksi yhden yön aikana. Tärkeää osaa tässä pelissä näyttelevät taustajoukot ovat olleet mukana täydellä panoksellaan ja arvokkaalla työllään tehneet tämän kaiken mahdolliseksi. t18.10.2004 - Teiskonen had difficulties in Italy! The second last rally of the Italian Subaru Cup, Rally Altopiano 7Comuni, was driven in northern Italy on Saturday 16th of October,2004. Teiskonen brothers had a winner points in their mind when they started the rally. But victory and good points were forgotten on the first special stage after difficulties they were having. Turbo-charger went out of order and brothers drove 12 kilometres without a boost pressure. - We were thinking of improving our position in serie, but that thought couldn't be kept at all after the difficulties in the beginning. Roads on the first SS at the morning was a little slippery and driving probably was also a little bit too careful. Additionally a turbo broke and stopped giving any boost. We drove twelve kilometres without full power and lost lot of time. During a next transitional stage we researched what was wrong with turbo, and found out that a hose fastening was loosen and the pressure fled out. We made a quick fix and replaced a broken hose fastening by a bit of an iron wire. Fix was successful and we got boost pressures back. The game was lost for a victory, but luckily we were able to continue anyway, Aki tells. During the day they stabled to position five. After SS number six the difference was a half minute for a last medal position. Aki decided to try to reach that medal during the last three SSs. That decision got a hit straight on the next SS when Ms. Bad Fortune gave a kiss in a format of a tire blow-out. - I decided to attack during last three SSs targeting to position three. Drivers in front of me were so close that I believed to be able to pass them. But then SS7, seven kilometres before the finish line a tire blow-out. We finished the SS with blown tire because we would lost more time if changed tire on SS. With a blown tire we lost our chance to compete about position three before the attack really started. SS8 and SS9 I did what was left, but it was enough only for fifth position in the cup. Last SSs were satisfied, car was excellent and I got good feeling for driving. On the last SS I drove fourth fastest time and it was also a best SS position on this rally to me, Aki says. On final results brothers are found on ninth position. The cup position stayed the same with the rally, fifth. Even the rally went partly down, there is also some positive things because a finished rally always gives valuable experience through driven SS kilometres. - The best in the rally was experiences about the mountain's changing conditions on the roads. SSs were built on the altitudes between 1000-1500 meters, on stony gravel roads. We saw all slippery conditions through water rains to snow showers. Some roads were dry with sunny sky and in a moment there had dark clouds. Now I understand difficulties of mountain rallies and only one of those is to choose correct tires. We had one good hydroplaning, but we got through it without any accident. We pushed through rocky places which I was a little scared at the beginning. We lost about two minutes all together because of difficulties, Aki summarizes in the end of the rally. The Italian Subaru Cup ends up in the rally of San Crispino, 6-7th November, 2004. At the same time ends up brothers driving season which was a long, eventful and rewarding towards the future. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.04.2004 - Teiskonens reached a finish line in Sardinia World championship rally in Sardinia, Italy, was a second rally on that level for Aki and Miika. They attended the rally with Fiat Punto Super 1600 and got a complete experience as was planned. They started the rally with the meaning of collecting experience by reaching the finish line and also to get a good position in their class by the secure driving. Brothers succeeded with their plans and achieved ninth position in their class A6 Super 1600. Also they got a good result in general classification with the 17th position. Within the Punto drivers Aki was a second, only faster was a factory supported driver with the latest development version car, an Italian Andreucci, who was second in class. Hot and dusty circumstances were hard for the car as well as to the crew too. Aki was able to avoid the worst pitfalls, but still got one tire damage. On Saturday Aki drove nine special stage kilometres with a empty tire, which possible affected to the final class position. On the last SS Aki took a sprint and was able to improve position in a class by one step upward. - We reached the finish line within the plans and that was good. Suzukis are going fast and the time difference to the sharpest positions sprained a quite big, but we finished the rally in a proper order and that was a desired result for us. The speed could be tighten, but then risks would grow up too. As a private driver there is no sense to push the limits too hard because a experience of driven SS kilometres could not be replaced with a few good SS time during the rally without finishing it. After a retirement in Jyväskylä I wanted to get a complete rally in order to compare my speed to other drivers in Juniors Championship -class. With the car we didn't have any problems during the rally. Hi-Tech Rallyteam, the owner of the car, guaranteed driving with their excellent operations, tells Aki from Sardinia. In a name of rally brothers are going back to Italy quite soon. The second last rally in Italian Subaru Cup, Rally Altopiano 7 Comuni, is coming in two weeks. Car is to be changed to four wheel drive Subaru and competition about the cup points continues. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.08.2004 - Teiskonen fourth in Subaru Cup of Italy Rally Dell Adriatico, which was driven around an Italian port town Ancona on 9-10th September, didn't go as well as planned on Teiskonen brothers. Little accidents with a little dusky driving tone was not just enough for wanted results. Right in the beginning on the first SS had a spin and on the second SS a rear support arm was bent. As previous happenings weren't enough, a tire damage crowned a beginning of the rally. But after all the those incidents didn't blow up the whole rally, but brothers were able to continue and started to hunt a good position. On the darkness of Friday night Aki drove excellent and reached one a second best SS time in among of Cup drivers, right after J-M Latvala, who controlled a rally. After Friday brothers held fourth position and it was a good starting point for a next day. On Saturday Aki and Miika started with a battle mind to reach a second position of the group. On Friday Aki's team mate, a ProDrive tuned Subaru driver Latvala had got an unattainable lead. On second driving day there weren't any technical difficulties, but speed wasn't on place as desired. Aki had a good competition with an Italian Baldini about the position three, but this time Baldini took the position with 1.7 seconds lead ahead of Aki. A medal was close but rallies has being sealed with even smaller differences than this. On a final results fourth position is not satisfactory, but this is the life this time. - Rally left something to improve because I didn't really get into the driving mood during the whole rally and I can't say any specific reason for that. I have to think things and improve my own doings. Otherwise rally was quite okay and a few good SS time gives a positive attitude. Now we got to look to a next challenge, towards next world championship rally in Sardinia, Aki tells. Next weeks goes with careful preparations to a autumns main rally and also next year rally driving plans are on the desk at the time. We'll see Aki's driving next time in Sardinia where is Italian world championship rally on 1st to 3rd of October, where brothers will step pedal to metal in Hi-tech's Fiat Super 1600 Punto. On that rally there are all top drivers of Junior WRC class, because this rally belongs to official world championship serie. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 07.08.2004 - Teiskonen retired in Jyväskylä ! Aki Teiskonen wasn't a favourite of Miss Fortune on day one, when he participated to his first world championship rally, Neste Rally Finland in Jyväskylä. Aki started rally quite well by Fiat Junior WRC Punto, but bad luck came to picture on SS 9. - On SS 9, Mökkiperä II, after a jump all warning lights went on, and I got to stop the engine. I looked under the hood and noticed that the oil pump bracket was break off. Continuation on Saturday would have being possible by the rules, but the failure was so severe that the whole engine block was supposed to change to fix the problem. This wide repairs were not possible, so retiring was true. This doesn't feel so good, but these belongs to rally sport and these are not anyhow foreseeable beforehand, Aki comments shortly. The rally was ended far too early on Aki, but preparations to next rallies will be started immediately with a positive attitude to get good results on them. It is sad that this went like it went, but there is nothing You can do for these kind of technical problems. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26.07.2004 - Teiskonen successful in Estonia! Aki Teiskonen's first rally by WRC car was a success while he participated to the RS rally, which is part of Estonian rally championship serie. Rally was driven on 23-24th of July on Otepää. Toyota Corolla, owned by Jari Latvala, fitted to Aki's hand immediately and he was able to show his driving skills right from beginning. Timo Hantunen gave a few hour introduction to Aki about the car and that was all before Aki started the rally without any hesitate. Friday's four first special stages Aki drove secondly fastest, only one faster was Jouni Ampuja, who drives ´01 Ford Focus. With the old ´99 Corolla Aki couldn't respond fully Jouni. Jari Viita with the ´03 Ford Focus couldn't respond for his part to Aki and he started to fall behind seconds from the first SS meters. On Friday's final results Aki was second, 24 after leading Ampuja. Third after Friday was a Russian Subaru driver Dorossinski, 24 behind Aki. - Before start, I couldn't estimate my own speed to figure out whether it is enough for fifth or fifteenth position. Right after first SS I noticed that my speed is good, only Ampuja was faster than I did. The time difference between Ampuja and I is acceptable, because our cars differs so much from each others. In our car we didn't have active differential locks and also gearbox is technically a little out of date. Otherwise Corolla felt good and it run without problems, Aki summarizes the start of rally. The second day Ampuja continued his leading and Aki went on second position during the day. Seconds came evenly between Aki and Ampuja. Also Dorossinski was clearly left behind Aki and top three started to be settled. Atmosphere was hot and dusty and roads were pretty similar for East-Finland's roads during the SSs. Through eight SSs the top three went to finish line in the same order of all the time of rally. - I didn't make any mistakes during the rally. I'm satisfied for the results when the difference in the amount of WRC experience is notified between me and Jouni Ampuja. Surprisingly fast I broke ices with Corolla and got it to go the way I wanted. WRC car is easy and logical to drive. Confirming the second position by enjoyable driving was a pleasure for me. This rally was meant for studying and we achieved our targets. Miika and our team made beautiful effort during the whole rally and with the car we didn't have any kind problems at all, Aki says satisfied. In the end results differences were quite clear. Ampuja won and Aki was 2.18 behind. Aki was 2.13 faster than third position's Subaru driver, Dorossinski. Jari Viita took the fourth position, a few seconds slower than a Russian driver. Aki's program continues tightly with Pirelli-Rally and also with preparations to Neste Rally Finland. There is no yet any news about next WRC rally, but it is sure that there is still a lot of hunger left for WRC driving in future. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29.06.2004 - Teiskonen to Neste Rally Finland by Fiat Punto Super 1600 The climax of the finnish rally season, a world championship rally, Neste Rally Finland 2004 is getting closer. That rally has being a good place to show their skills for many young drivers through past years. This year is not going to be an exception. Promising young rally star of Middle-Finland who towards a professional rally career, Mr. Aki Teiskonen is participating to the Neste Rally, which is going to be driven on the second weekend of August, 2004. Aki's car is Fiat Punto Super 1600. This is Aki's first appearance on the world series level, while he is participating to junior class. On this phase the contract with Fiat covers only one rally. About the future, everything is still open and it probably depends about the possible success on this rally. - I'm very pleased now when participating to the Neste Rally Finland is confirmed. Of course a finnish rally is the best place to start driving on world championship level for a finnish driver with the finnish rally audience. I've being plannig this rally since last autumn with the Fiat's competion organization. A week ago I got a notice from factory that it is possible to drive Neste Rally Finland by their car. I'll get a full manufacturer support, which means that I really have a chance for success on the rally, Aki told. As Aki mentioned, the co-operation started autumn 2003 with HI-TEC SRL, which is responsible for Fiat's competition operations. Aki visited in Italy and tested the latest version of Super 1600 Fiat Punto and was able to confirm team manager, Mr. Fabricio Borra, by his driving. Team was willing to drive in Neste Rally Finland and they also wanted to have a finnish driver. Team made an offer to Aki to drive with the manufacturer support. Fiat has strongly committed to Neste Rally Finland and Mr. Borra is going to be busy during the rally weekend since he is responsible for five Punto driver's operations altogether. - I've being grinding these home corner roads since I was a little kid. With muddy boots in a rain I've being standing on these special stages, year after year. I followed rally driver's achievements and thought that some day I could be followed here by audience also. Now this dream is coming true and I could show my driving for a professional, finnish rally audience. A desicion about driving wasn't too difficult to do, Aki summarizes satisfied. Team will arrange two days testing session a week before the rally. Session will be in Joutsa area, where is a good road network for testing purposes. During tests all needed adjustments will be made to fit Aki and the car together for finnish roads. At the same time it is a beautiful chance to practise driving with totally new driving equipments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14.06.2004 - Solid finish for Teiskonen Finnish duo Aki and Miika Teiskonen were back in action last weekend on the Scottish International Rally when the town of Dumfries was the base for two days of tough rally action. Following the accident on the Rally of Wales, the Autosport Technology team worked against the clock to get the Citroen Saxo to the start ramp on Friday afternoon. On the way to the first stage in the forest of Ae, the car developed an electrical fault but Aki was able to sort this before he started the stage, although he unfortunately incurred 40 seconds of road penalties. However, the car then went on to perform faultlessly over the two days of competition. Aki and Miika settled into comfortable pace as they drove to ensure a finish, often setting top three S1600 times on stages which were all new to them. A strong drive on the second leg pulled the young Finns up from 25th to 11th overall, the final result unfortunately being hindered by two punctures. However, this still places them 3rd in the S1600 Championship and they are now looking forward to the challenge of the Jim Clark Memorial Rally which takes place over July 2nd and 3rd in the Scottish Borders town of Kelso. Richard Asquith is already thinking ahead to the tarmac event "We know the Saxo will perform well on the Jim Clark - previously we had been leading S1600 when we suffered an engine failure two stages from the end. Our set up works well over the UK's bumpy tarmac roads and the event will be yet another new experience for Aki and Miika." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30.05.2004 - Teiskonen interrupted in Rally di San Marino Miss Fortune wasn't smiling for Teiskonen brothers in Italy. Subaru Cup's fourth competition, Rally di San Marino, got an interruption right in the beginning. Careful preparation to the rally fell down because of a small mistake. - After 13 kilometres on stage one the car slipped into the bank of a ditch and jammed there. That happened already once in previous rallies in Italy. There wasn't any help available for getting car back to road so that meant end of the rally. Partly driving off the road was because of wrong tire selection - I selected tires which weren't suitable for a wet road, so, slipping car out of hands was my mistake. Positive thing was that the car didn't get any damage. Now we have to be patient with these reversals. I have to work and concentrate more to avoid these mistakes in future. Of course these are irritating, but I could take a look into a mirror, Aki criticizes himself. Forward had to go even previous English serie -rally and this Rally di San Marino got interruptions. In the Subaru Cup there are still three rallies left and for those we have to prepare really carefully. Anyway Aki has already shown his speed with a four wheel drive car, when everything is on place. Rallying in Italy has now a little longer break, the next rally is on 9-11th of September, 2004, in a name of Rally Adriatico. But it is no time to put Teiskonens out to a summer pasture. In two weeks, 11-12th there is a third British rally serie competition in Scotland. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.05.2004 - A log too far! Young Finnish brothers Aki and Miika Teiskonen made their first ever trip to Wales last weekend - and made quite an impression. Following their superb Super 1600 victory on the Pirelli International the duo were looking forward to the different challenge of the Welsh stages. "The stages here are very interesting and the recce has been hard" commented Aki "but we will see how we get on. The set up of the Citroen Saxo is superb and should go really well". The first group of stages on Saturday saw the 22 year old setting some stunning times, being bettered only by reigning BRC S1600 Champion and JWRC driver Kris Meeke. Towards the end of the first leg Teiskonen was slowed slightly by a steering problem but this was rectified in service and he was confident of setting good times on the second leg. The first stage of the day was to prove his downfall however and an over ambitious 'cut' four miles into Hafren bought the event to an abrupt halt when contact with a log pile tore the entire front corner off the Saxo. "As ever, it is disappointing for the event to end like this" said Richard Asquith "but we were very encouraged by the times Aki and Miika were setting before the accident. Every event is new to them at the moment and they are learning all the time. Yet again, the car has performed really well and proved its' competitiveness". The Autosport Technology team is hopeful that the car will be repaired in time for the next round of the BRC, the Scottish International in June. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.05.2004 - Teiskonen second in a Subaru Cup of Italy Teiskonens reached a second position in rally Costa Smeralda's Subaru Cup, which was driven in Sardinia island in Italy on 7-8 May, 2004. Two day's competition on island's gravel roads was a fight between Aki and an Italian Luigi Ricci. First day went well for Aki. After the nine special stages of the day one Aki took a leading position in a Cup with the 26.8 seconds ahead to Ricci. Car was just perfect and the driving atmosphere was good. Second day Aki and Ricci were measuring each others by collecting fastest special stages alternately. Before the last stage Aki's lead was 12.7 seconds. On the last stage Ricci made a good attack and got 5.3 second lead before Aki and thus Ricci got this battle of Cup. - Trouble-free competition on us. Car was just perfect and the team made guaranteed, professional work. The lost battle on the last stage tasted a bit little sour. But this time I tasted the same what I've being offering to others several times. Last time in England I secured the victory for myself on the last stage storming. I hope that everyone remembers that I drove here the first time and after all that had my third rally on a four-wheel drive car. With this background the result is satisfies me, but I still have something to improve on the next rallies. Performance was mistakeless, but this time it was not enough for victory, Aki told after the rally. Next time brothers will set themselves into the car in England on next weekend, where they have a rally in Wales. Italian Subaru Cup continues in San Marino on 28-30 of May, 2004. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26.04.2004 - Flying Finn win in England! Finnish driver Aki Teiskonen, co driven by his brother Miika, secured a fantastic Super 1600 Victory on last weekends Pirelli International Rally. It was the first visit to the Kielder Forest complex for the pair and only their second event in this country. Driving the Autosport Technology Citroen Saxo kit car, they made a cautious start on the first two night stages and at the refuelling halt Aki commented “As we hadn't been to Kielder before we started quite slowly but now we need to speed up – I had forgotten how quickly these S1600 cars can be driven!” The next stage saw Aki fastest by just 1 second as he began to make up the lost time and he arrived at the overnight halt in 4 th position. The first stage of the next morning was to prove difficult however, as the Finns caught up the unfortunate Jonny Milner as he drove his damaged WRC car through the stage. The close following Pirelli shod Saxo finished the stage with broken headlights and a ‘bullet holed' windscreen – along with a frustrated driver now down in 6 th place in the S1600 category! Aki soon settled to the task ahead though and stage 5 again saw him post the fastest S1600 time – a feat he repeated on every remaining stage. The 22 year old continued with his controlled but rapid comeback pace and finally snatched victory at the end with 7 fastest S1600 times from the 10 stages. Team spokesman Richard Asquith was naturally delighted with the performance of the young driver “ We have had a very good rally with absolutely no problems with the car at all, the tyres have worked superbly and Aki and Miika have driven really well. The S1600 Championship will be very competitive this year and it is great to get off to such a fantastic start. Aki is learning all the time and we knew both he and the Saxo had the potential to win – we are all looking forward to the Rally of Wales in three weeks time” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31.03.2004 - Teiskonen brothers started their season in the first rally of Italian Subaru Cup, Prealpi Trevigiane, which was driven on 27th of March, 2004. In the cup there are 22 registered drivers, who are competing from Cup-points by all using similar N-group cars. If all groups counted, the total amount of drivers were 150 in rally and 56 of those were in N-group. Teiskonens got a good speed from the first meters of the rally. First special stages were more familiarizing to a new car, but showed also that the top of the cup is not too far. With the even driving they were in the among of top five. Car and tires were excellent and no driving mistakes were made. After stage four they were 24th in general class and fifth in Subaru Cup. - I drove a gravel test on Thursday at the end of the notation period and a shakedown on Friday. There weren't too many kilometres driven on the Subaru before the start, but in the test I got the car to fit to my taste. In started the rally without pressures and looking for the finish line. First stages I just was familiarizing the car, avoided mistakes and didn't even try the maximum driving yet, Aki told. The second set of four stage followed the first one, without mistakes. Speed stayed on even level all the time. After eight driven stages they improved their position. In the cup they were fourth and in the general class position was 20. - Second round was a little faster that the first one. I know better the car all the time, which resulted better times for stages. On the last stage we went to keep the speed on the same level as previous stages, Aki summarizes. During the rally improving speed were shown most clearly on the last special stages. Eleventh stage, Le Rive, was the longest in the rally, over 18 kilometres driving. That stage Aki drove fast and finished it with the 11th fastest time in general class. The fastest of 11th stage in Subaru Cup was an Italian Ricci, who won also this first rally of the cup, but Aki was only two seconds behind him on that stage. - Notation worked excellent and I was able to improve my speed into the end of the rally. Driving with four-wheel drive car has still some new tricks to learn for me. My team, Motoring, was excellent. They supported me all the ways I needed and the car didn't have any problems at all. The final position I'm not fully satisfied, but I drove to the finish line on my first four-wheel rally ever. It is also something. From this it is good to continue to next rallies, Aki commented. On the final results Teiskonen brothers were on position 17th and in the Subaru Cup they are on promising fourth position. As a total, rally went as planned and all goals were achieved fully. Next time the Subaru Cup -points are available in Italy on 17-18 of April, 2004, in the rally of Coppa Liburna. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.03.2004 - Teiskonen Brothers European tour is starting A Few month break in driving is now behind and Teiskonen brothers are starting to realise this season's rally plans. First they are traveling into England where they'll participate to the Grand opening ceremony of the rally championship serie. From England they'll go straight to the first rally in Italy. The Grand opening of the Pirelli British Championship -serie, BRC Live, will take place on 21-23 of March, 2004. Last year over 6 000 spectators followed a happening which is a two day occasion to introduce teams and drivers for audience. Ceremony place is Bramcote, which is close to Nuneaton city. All drivers who are participating to the rally serie, are available for audience interviews through the show weekend. Within the precognition some TV-networks which are interested about autosport, are broadcasting about the event. After the event, brothers will have a serious action in Italy. They face a first competition of a Subaru Cup which they participate by a car of Motoring club. Rally Prealpi Trevivigiane will be driven 26-27 of March in North-Italy and a city of Conegliano will serve as a central place of the rally. Rally consist of 12 special stages on gravel and rally has 122 SS kilometers all together. There are four different route andf they all will be driven three times. Before the rally Aki will drive a gravel test to ensure that everything is okay on the rally weekend. Totally new Conegliano's landscapes are not for Aki because he drove already there a testing rally on the fall of 2003. - The break has being long enough and it is really great to have a serious rally action. We're starting the season with keeping our season's targets in our minds. We try to get a complete performance and to learn everything possible by driving to the finish line. I have a good driving appetite, but I'm a realist and I'm not expecting really the top position yet on the end results of the rally. Familiarizing myself with the new car takes a few moment, but fortunately I already know the region, Aki summarizes the season starting. Italy is totally new experience for Miika because he never raced there before. He gets the first touch for Italien rally atmosphere on that rally. Last year Miika was skippering Aki's driving on Estonia, Belgium and England, so racing in foreign country is not really strange for any of them. - I'm expecting the season as ardently as Aki does. I believe that the next year is going to be really interesting. We have prepared for the season many ways during the break and I know that we're ready both, mentally and physically to face hard challengies what season is going to offer us, Miika thinks. All the basics are done. It is time to go to learn new and to apply already known things. Tour toward the professional driving is ready to begin ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26.11.2003 - Teiskonen drives in England and Italy during season 2004! One of our rising stars in rally driving Mr. Aki Teiskonen from Laukaa , Finland will be driving abroad next year 2004. Last season's Finnish championship silver medallist takes a brave step towards his professional career. Teiskonen has made a one-year contract with two foreign teams. Co-operation with Mr. Timo Kankkunen and Aki has introduced a contract with Italian Motoring Club Sernaglian and English Autosport Technology – Asquit Autosport. Aki will drive N-group Subaru cup in Italy with Motorings car and in England he will be driving Pirelli British Rally Championship with Asquit Rallysport's Citroen Saxo KitCar. Akis co-driver during the year will be his brother Miika Teiskonen. Their co-operation has proved effective during the time together and no replacements were even considered. - It was time to make important decisions with Aki and to start driving abroad. This kind of package was ideal for present situation and provides important experience in competing in different cultural areas. Learning how to drive four-by-four will also be important for the future. Aki faces a year of colourful kilometres comments Timo Kankkunen about the contracts. - I am really satisfied with these solutions. Now it is possible to drive two whole series abroad. It will be a year of acquiring experience and to prove myself as a good driver. Learning four-by-four will take its time but I think I will get used to Subaru quickly. I'm not actually able to set any goals for the next season. I think it is important to find the confidence to driving by learning and get the results that way, Aki says. Finns have been driving Subaru in Italy before. Mikko Hirvonen began his international career in Italy and the winner of the Subaru Cup 2003 was Jari-Matti Latvala. Subaru Cup is highly respected. It is also thought as an excellent education to the promising young drivers. Akis car is going to come from the same team as Mikko and Jari-Mattis. - I´m going there with Miika to develop myself as a driver. As I have told before my future goal is to drive at the highest level possible. I see this as an opportunity to get closer to my future goal. I want to thank my background people and my team who made this possible with effort. I have to keep cool because it is going to be a challenging season, reasons Aki. The contracts include complete season in both countries. Aki is going to drive seven races in England , 4 on gravel and 3 on asphalt and eight races in Italy as well. This means a busy season for Aki. Due to tight racing program abroad Aki will not be seen in domestic races. There have been some negotiations about driving the world championship the Neste Rally Finland but decision will be made later .