29.4.2012 - Pirelli Star Driver award for Jussi in round three

The third event of the BRC brought success to the Ford Junior Team Finland drivers Jussi Kumpumäki and Niko Nieminen. Both of them drove their best rallies this season.

The competition between the top four drivers in R2 class was tight at the rally, which took place on famous Kielder forest roads in the north of England.

Jussi Kumpumäki, who set the two fastest times driving in the Ford Fiesta finished in third place, 18.8 seconds behind the winner. The Skoda driver Jukka Korhonen was beaten by 7.9 seconds by the class winner Elfyn Evans.

Kumpumäki, the 22 year old Finn, was pleasantly surprised at the finishing line when he was presented with The Pirelli Star Driver Award. The award guarantees him a place in the final with all the other awarded drivers.

- This special award is great. The BRC manager congratulated me at the finishing ramp and told me that my good speed and the two fastest times set had caught the attention of the judges, happy Kumpumäki explains.

- I´m happy with my speed and after the first few stages I was able to match class winners pace.

Kumpumäki's team mate, the 19 year old Niko Nieminen reached his goal. It was the young man's third rally in Britain and his ranking in fifth position was better than in the previous rally.

Onboard videos from the event:
- Pirelli Rally 2012 - Incar SS 9
- Pirelli Rally 2012 - Incar SS 10

Older press releases
- 23.03.2012 - Jussi retires early in Wales
- 26.02.2012 - Jussi finished second in Sunseeker
- 15.02.2012 - Ford junior team going to succeed in British Rally Championship series
- Season 2011 newsarchive
- Season 2010 newsarchive
- Season 2009 newsarchive