12.1.2013 - Kari Hytönen opened with fifth position - ABC -rally was good practice for the Championship

Kari Hytönen, 46, and co-driver Ada Herranen were fifth overall in the front wheel drive class last Saturday at ABC -rally in Kouvola. The two stages and 24,6 kilometers long mini rally was satisfactory for the team in the Ford Fiesta R2 rally car. Third position was only 14,8 seconds away.

The veteran driver, who has rallied since 1984 and in nine different countries, was pleased with 0,3 seconds margin to his main rival Vesa Lehmussaari.

- I did not need to be best driver in the two wheel driven class, but be better than Lehmussaari. My goal was fulfilled and I can only be satisfied, said Hytönen with a smile.

- Also my co-driver Ada was brilliant in spite of six months absence from pace-notes. We had only previously used tires with limited grip, but I find nothing wrong with today's rally. Of course we would like to have more stage kilometers, but from here it is good to continue towards Rovaniemi and the Arctic Rally, continues Hytönen.

Final results 12th January 2013 - ABC rally, Kouvola: 2WD/R1, R2, R3, N, Super 1600, FinR
1. Veli-Pekka Karttunen & Topi Luhtinen, Renault Clio Sport, 13:21,7
2. Sami Sundell & Juha Kunttu, Honda Civic Type-R, +45,2sec
3. Ville Tannermäki & Teemu Neuvonen, Honda Civic Type-R, +54,0sec
4. Niko Veikkanen & Teemu Horkama, Honda Civic Type-R, +54,9sec
5. Kari Hytönen & Ada Herranen, Ford Fiesta R2, +1:08,8sec
6. Vesa Lehmussaari & Pasi Riihiaho, Citroen C2 R2 , +1:09,1sec

11.1.2013 - Kari Hytönen aims for medals - the veteran drivers 29th rally season includes rallies both home and abroad

Kari Hytönens career started in 1984 and has taken him to nine different countries and about 300 rallies both as driver and co-driver. The 46 years old driver aims for medals in the Finnish Rally Championship in 2013 with his Ford Fiesta R2.

His co-drivers in Finnish Rally Championship, Neste Rally Finland and selected international rallies are Ada Herranen and Heidi Koppe.

The FRC starts last weekend in January at the Arctic Rally in Rovaniemi and continues with seven demanding rallies. The names of the medalists are presented at the last rally of FRC in Tampere at the end of September.

Hytönen and his attractive co-drivers are open minded before the season, which includes in customary fashion also rallies in Central Europe. Hytönen, who has won several class wins in Finland, Germany, England, Italy and Czech Republic during his long career, thinks his idea of medals is realistic.

- In 2009 I won the Suomi Cup and now it is time to aim for the Championship medals. My rivals will be many times Finnish rally champion Joonas Lindroos, Juho Annala with lots of track racing experience and also Jaro Kinnunen who starts with new in Finland Peugeot 208 R2. The challenge is big, but we are going to take it and see what comes up, analyzes Hytönen.

- This Saturday my co-driver Ada Herranen and I will experience again the joys of winter rallies. At the same time we will test the car for the Arctic Rally. At home there more challenges are waiting as there is new baby coming at the beginning of March. Our two daughters are eager to get new company. I only hope the baby is not coming at the same time as the last winter rally in Joensuu. Otherwise I will have to drive back and forth between Jyväskylä hospital and Joensuu rally headquarters, laughs Hytönen and continues, that the baby's birth is of course more important than any rally.

Hytönen Racing premilinary calendar for rally season 2013:
- 12.01.2013 - ABC-ralliy Kouvola
- 26.01.2013 - Arctic Lapland Rally, Rovaniemi
- 23.02.2013 - FRC Vaakuna rally, Mikkeli
- 09.03.2013 - FRC Itärally, Joensuu
- 08.06.2013 - FRC Pohjanmaa rally, Seinäjoki
- 13.07.2013 - FRC O.K. Auto ralliy Kouvola
- 03.08.2013 - WRC Rally Finland, Jyväskylä
- 31.08.2013 - FRC Rally, Turku
- 28.09.2013 - FRC Rally, Tampere

Hytönen Racing the most important achievements:
- 2009 Suomi Cup champion
- 2008 WRC Sweden and WRC Finland, group wins
- 2007 WRC Sweden, group win
- 2006 WRC Finland, group win
- 2005 WRC Finland, group wins
- 2004 4th in overall classifications at Finnish 1400 Trophy
- 1994 Rally of Thousand lakes, 3rd in group
- Several group wins in rallyes at Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Czech