Formula Off Road World Cup
The third and fourth Formula Off Road World Cup events in 2006 are held in Finland. The events take place in a rock mine close to Kangasala and Tampere some 200 km north of Helsinki. Today is the first competition of the two.
This is my first time in Finland. The country looks very nice with lots of trees that hide the thousands of lakes around the country. The people are also friendly although they speak a language nobody else understands a word in!
Eight competitors are bringing their trucks and equipment from Iceland, nine come from Sweden, and six from Finland and Norway.
With 20°C and clear sky it looks like this will be a nice day.
The Finns are much better in organizing events like this than I have seen in Iceland. All from these name tags (in this case slightly uncomfortable) for all staff and team members to the way the cars are started is top notch.
The only difference between a man and a boy is the size of his toys! This miniature Jeep has all the controls to operate but would only fit a 5 year old driver.
Cars in the Modified Class start all tracks before the Unlimited Class does. They drive a slightly easier route.
Arne Larsson from Sweden is the first to start. He is competing on this sweet little Jeep with a 5 cylinder Volvo engine in the Modified Class. He is able to finish the first track with the full 350 points.
Jare Salonen from Finland is next. He is doing well in most tracks and finishes second in the Modified Class.
Sofia Schollen-Borg from Sweden is the only woman competing. She drives quite well and ends up in fifth place.
Kristofer Hall from Sweden is only able to start in two of the first tracks.
Ketil Hakonsen from Norway is driving with confidence.
Ragnar Robersson from Iceland starts of pretty well...
...at the end of the day he wins the Modified Class with a full house of points! A first time in the Formula Off Road history.
Harry Kamppi from Finland.
4x4 Off Roads!
Ansi Oyvanen from Finland shows some stunning tricks. In spite of that he is not among the top players today.
Here he is in a brilliant save from a rollover.
Bjarki Reynisson from Iceland starts off nicely but has problems in the last two tracks.
Thomas Nyholm from Finland is one of Ragnar's biggest competitor today. Ending up third - he takes his little Suzuki for a number of short flying trips.
In the timed track things looked good for Arne Larsson. He seemed to be slightly to the right in this jump at the end gate...
...in spite of this he comes out ok but the same can not be said about the Jeep. This is all the beating it can take today.
Cars in the Unlimited Class start all tracks after the Modified Class. They drive the hardest route.
Daniel G. Ingimundarson from Iceland is the first to start in the Unlimited Class. He seems to be having some difficulty handling his truck in most tracks but manages to drive ok in the second one.
Ville Viikare from Finland starts of second and is able to catch the 350 points for the first track but after that seems too loose his touch.
Morten Lovskogen from Norway starts next and drives evenly.
Olafur Bragi Jonsson from Iceland seems to be having trouble with his transmission and is not doing too good.
Ole Graversen from Norway starts with a bang but is not able to follow up on his last years achievement.
Rolf Keiser from Sweden does ok in the first tracks but gradually looses his foothold.
Roar Johansen from Norway comes flying through the end gate on the first track but ends up on his roof. After that he can't seem to keep up the pace.
Sigurdur Thor Jonsson from Iceland does well. Especially in the first two tracks where he finishes with a full house of points.
Ulf Drakenheim from Sweden.
Miikka Kaskinen from Finland...
... lets just call him the flying Finn.
Fredrik Sipuri from Sweden does well in the first track but like many others has ever more problems as the race continues.
Arne Johannesen from Norway drives well today and has the best time in the timed track.
Gunnar Gunnarsson from Iceland shows excellent speed and control and is obviously competing for a medal.
Finn Erik Loberg from Norway is also hot today.
Leo Vidar Bjornsson from Iceland makes a good first tracks but is not able to start in the last course due to a broken starter.
Gisli G. Jonsson from Iceland shows some fearless driving in all tracks and is the clear winner of the day.
In one track Gisli takes the scary route of staying on the edge of a cliff where nobody else dares come close to. He is the only on to get up there! One false move and his car would be totaled.
Per Anders Nordstedt from Sweden is almost finished with the first track when he looses control and rolls all the way down the highest slope.
Per Anders comes limping out of the truck and has to go to a hospital for checkup. Kristofer Hall from Sweden who had troubles in the Modified Class takes over with competing in the car.
Winners in the Modified Class. Ragnar Robersson in the center with Jari Salonen with the Finish flag and Tomas Nyholm to the right.
Winners in the Unlimited Class. Gisli G. Jonsson in the center, gold winner. Gunnar Gunnarsson to the left, silver medal and Finn Erik Loberg, bronze winner to the right.
1. Ragnar Robertsson
4x4.is Willys
2050 2. Jare Salonen Willyster 
1879 3. Tomas Nyholm Suzuki 1863 4 Kjetil Hakonsen Sandy 
1730 5. Sofia Scholin-Borg Affe 
1629 6. Bjarki Reynisson The Animal 1569 7. Arne Larsson Willys CJ2 1039 8. Anssi Oivanen Linda 930 9. Harri Kamppi Jeezuki Looser 830 10. Kristofer Hall Onskan 60
1. Gisli G. Jonsson The Steroid 2037
2. Gunnar Gunnarsson The Clown 1904
3. Finn Erik Laberg RaceRunner 1729
4. Ole Graversen The Eagle 1581
5. Arne Johannesen Lightfoot 1580
6. Miikka Kaskinen Big Willys 1562
7. Morten Lovskogen Gladiator 1528
8. Roar Johansen Thunderbolt 1496
9. Sigurdur Thor Jonsson The Troll 1475
10. Ulf Drakenheim Dragon Wagon 1427
11. Rolf Keiser Terminator 1319
12. Leo Vidar Bjornsson Iron Maiden 1286
13. Daniel G. Ingimundarson Green Thunder 1234
14. Ville Viikari Sandstorm 1220
15. Olafur Bragi Jonsson The Fox 1076
16. Fredrik Sipuri Predator 1028
17. Tuukka Laasonen Black Moose 985
18. Kristofer Hall T-Rex 871
19. Per Anders Nordstedt T-Rex 250
Thanks for all that took part and organized the event!
Formula Off Road - Off Road motor sport at its best. Most powerful specially modified 4x4 vehicles taken to the extreme with full throttle and nitro. Hundreds upon hundreds of horses under the hood.
