The 2012 international rally season has already begun, but the British Rally Championship (BRC) series will not start until next week. Finnish drivers have always been successful on the British stages and there is plenty of interest for the upcoming season as an all-new rally team, Ford Junior Team Finland, is coming to the BRC with Jussi Kumpumäki and Niko Nieminen. Both drivers will compete behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R2.

22-year-old Jussi Kumpumäki from Uusikaupunki is the 2010 Finnish Fiesta Trophy champion and since then he has been focusing on the international rallies.

“Last year was a big learning curve as I drove in many different events. I won on both gravel and Tarmac. In BRC I was in 4th place in R2 class and 2nd in the Fiesta Trophy,” says Kumpumäki who joined the BRC part-way through the season.

“I am now confident about this upcoming season and have set my sights high. I will be aiming for the victory in R2 class and the best possible overall results amongst the different two wheel drive cars.

“Experiences from the past season are a great help and preparing for the new season is easier. Apart from the opening rally, the rest of the events are familiar. I will be competing with two top co-drivers, Marko Salminen and Jani Salo this season,” states Kumpumäki.

19-year-old Niko Nieminen from Loimaa has been busy competing in both Finnish and Baltic rallies. A number of events and a rigorous training regime have raised young man’s speed to a competitive level this past season. Nieminen’s car is provided by Katap Racing which owns a share of the Estonian MM-Motorsport who have experience of rallying at World Champion level.

Nieminen who finished 3rd in the 2011 Finnish Fiesta Trophy is pleased with the new challenges in the BRC series. His co-driver is the experienced Pasi Haataja.

“This is an important step in my early rally career. I have noticed that all these different races have improved me as a driver. I think the British series is possibly the best option for me at this stage,” says Nieminen.

“The series is extremely competitive, so I get to test my speed against the other young drivers. I will learn a lot during my first season, although I am not quite dreaming of the victories yet.”