Airikkala to drive Chevette in N.Z.

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 21

Airikkala to drive Chevette in N.Z.

By

John Fridd

European works participation in the 1979 Motogard Rally in the North Island has been boasted to five cars with the confirmation this week that the top Finnish driver, Pentti Airikkala, will drive a Dealer Team Vauxhall Chevette H 52300 in the event.

The announcement from General Motors (N.Z.) comes hard on the heels of last week’s release from Datsun that Andy

Dawson (U.K.) and Timo Salonen (Finland) will drive two-litre Datsun 160 J cars in the New Zealand rally. Airikkala, 31, will introduce a fiercely competitive note to the rally, as the Chevette H 52300 should thrive on New Zealand roads, which are faster than those predominating in Europe. He will certainly ensure that the two works Escort RSIBOO drivers, Hannu Mikkola and Ari Vatanen (both Finland), do not have things all their own way. The deal is being financed by New Zealand’s General ' Motors dealers, and was in doubt for some time when the latest energy crisis struck. However, after discussions with the Government and General Motors’ head office last, week the dealers decided to go ahead. After the rally the works Chevette will remain in the country, to be

driven in national events here by a top New Zealander, as yet un-named. The Chevette HS made its competitive debut in the 1976 RAC Rally in Great Britain in the hands of Will Sparrow. Dealer Team Vauxhall decided in 1977 that the car had real potential, and formed a professional rally team, contracting Airikkala and Chris Sclater (U.K.) to drive two cars in British and worldchampionship events. After six months and five rallies, the Chevette became a winner, in the hands of Airikkala in the 1977 Welsh Rally, beating Vatanen in a tight battle. Disaster struck in the next rally on the British calendar, when Airikkala’s car caught fire and was completely destroyed. However, the Finn came back with a vengeance in the 1977 RAC Rally, looking a winner for a time until the wrong tyre choice and an accident p :t him out of contention. In 1978 D.T.V. split its attack. Airikkala and a Scot, Jimmy Mcßae tackled the British season and Sclater, based in Belgium, ran in some European rallies.

The season started well, with Airikkala winning the Mintex (U.K.) and Hanki (Finland) rallies and Sclater the Belgium 12 Hours of the East event.. Then came a major turning point for the team. It was refused a start in the Portuguese world-championship round, as the world rallying body had given instructions for the Chevette’s cylinderhead type to be changed from the Lotus unit that had been developed for the car. However, this proved rather a blessing in disguise, as the team had intended to develop its own Vauxhail head for the Chevette anyway, but not so soon.

Work on the Vauxhallbuilt 16-valve head was stepped up at the Blydenstein workshops and the Chevette was back in the winners’ circle when Sclater gained the group four award on the tough French Milli Pistes rally c and third in the Tour De France. Airikkala took third place in the 1000 Lakes Rally in Scandinavia to take Chevette’s first world-championship points and he then held his Welsh Rally title. Airikkala’s best worldchampionship performance this year came in the second round, the Swedish rally, when he finished ]’ third behind Stig Blomqv- I ist (Saab 99 turbo) and |

Bjorn Waldegaard (Escort RS1800). The Chevette H 52300 has been developed into a sophisticated rally machine. Its 2279 cu cm fourcylinder motor, with its four - vaive - per - cylinder aluminium head, develops 240 bhp at 7400 r.p.m. It has a close-ratio gearbox, with five forward speeds, and a triple-plate competition clutch. It has Bilstein gas-filled shock-absorbers all round, four-wheel disc brakes and high-ratio steering, with 2.2 turns from lock to lock.