FORMULA DRIVERS (FIN)

Jussi Lailavuo

wrote history

Formula 4 Rookie Jussi Lailavuo wrote new finnish racing history, when he gained 1997 Championship title without race wins. 21 year young Wonder Boy from Kotka, near border of Russia,  drove strongly almost at every track and he took nicely podium places in sequence. Three seconds and four third places was enough to the Gold.

Jussi Lailavuo was surely the most promising newcomer of the year 1997 in the fastest racing class in Finland, Formula 4. And he will win, surely.
-Victory is always the aim when a race is ahead, ensures Jussi. The main goal next season will be at the finish Formula 4 championship again and we should be already off to international tracks. Scandinavian  Formula 3 series is very interesting.
At last in June 1998 Lailavuo's luck changed at Kemora track. He gained a clear victory in saturdays first FM race and the team was enjoined with him. In the second days race happened a dropdown back to the hard surface and he lost the win.
The victory at Kemora was the only one at the year 1998.

Long Career
Jussi Lailavuo has a rarely long career behind because he got the first Formula Kart car at the age of four. With it he won his first race.
-I started competing at Loviisa’s track in the year 1980 and I won there the under six years-old-class, recalls Jussi. The spark came from parents, which have also later helped Jussi on his career.
FK-career’s top of the iceberg was the season 1990, when Finnish Karting Union chose Lailavuo as the junior driver of the year. Next year he drove in International A Junior class and gained Nordic championship-silver. Later he tried also the World Championship-level, but then equipment and economy  set the limits for progressing.
-In Karting I had many tough races against Risto Virtanen and Miku Santavirta, says Jussi. Today they drive in Japan and at british tracks with bigger monoposto’s and I am after the same kind of professional career.
Lailavuo works as a diesel mechanic in homecity Kotka.

First comes Ford

Jussi Lailavuo started in Formula Ford 1600 class in the year 1994 with a few years old Reynard that was earlier used by i.e. former Finnish champion Kalle Jokinen. The start was rocky and no top positions were achieved.
-Car felt difficult at start, because compared to karts 1600 cc Formula Fords had very poor traction, states Jussi.
However one can get used to anything and at last Jussi already won one Finnish championship race with black Van Diemen car and rise to the podium at almost every track. Dropouts made Jussi to lose points so that he positioned to sixth at the final championship standings.

More Power

Formula Ford 1600 felt too easy as a car and for the season  1997 Lailavuo moved to finnish national Formula 4-class.
-First expressions about Formula 4 were very positive, because car had much more power and better traction that I got used to during my years at the karts. Lailavuo’s car was a used  Reynard from the year 1992 and it was originally a real Formula 3 racer. Now it’s powered by 1800 cc VW Golf engine that produces approx. 150 hp. Today a Formula 3 engine has about 210 hp power.
Before the season 1997 we drove tests at Alastaro and Ahvenisto, says Jussi. Car show to have enough speed and driver just has to learn new breaking places and driving lines. I really liked that car.
-At the first race in Hämeenlinna I was third, because at the start I had problems in shifting to second gear, tells Jussi. At that point leading cars were too much ahead and chances to achieve them were null. If we consider the future I was not worried about the first winner Sanna Pinola, because she drives quite peacefully.
Lailavuo was happy about the condition and speed of his car.
-Team spirit was good and team professional, says Jussi. Marko Koiranen and Co were professional men, which both have decades of experience. They have self raced monopostocars and worked also as engineers.

Only Scratches

Jussi Lailavuo’s career started 17 years ago, but still he has managed with small bruises.
-I have driven few karting–car’s frames into knots and with Formula Ford I broke some suspensions and wishbones. I myself hadn’t have any serious damages, tells Jussi.
-Accidents haven’t effected the way I feel about driving, because they are part of the game. Driving wouldn’t be possible if one is scared about getting hurt, ensures Jussi.
Lailavuo don’t bow in front of the pictures, but one idol can be found.
-Ayrton Senna has always been one sort of role model. He knew how to do his work from karts to Formula 1, estimates Jussi.

Large Team

Jussi Lailavuo drove1998 in a new team called FTR  that is headed by Marko Koiranen. That season team had two Dallara F 396 cars from british Formula 3 series and Paul Stewart Racing Team. There are also a half a dozen Kart-cars in a hall in Nurmijärvi. Those are also in racing usage, but other fellows drive them.
Besides Lailavuo drove last season Tuusula's young and fast girl Sanna Pinola. There is experience in pit lane too as Markku "Pappa" Koiranen – former driver also- is exploiting his know-how. Jari Koiranen, who was once undoubtedly the top Formula 3 driver in Finland, also offers help for the team.

Team was heading for the Formula 3 class and Scandinavian tracks already for  season 1998. Pinola had a deal ready.
-I personally have no deal for the following year and continuation depends greatly on sponsors, thinks Jussi. We definitely need more sponsors, so that conquer of the world can be started.
Time only will show how far Jussi goes.

The Career

Born  06.03.1976 in Kotka. Sister Anu. Profession dieselmechanic in his fathers business.

1980 Formula Karting. First car.

1987 F K

1990 F K

1991 F K

1992 F K

1993 F K

1994 Formula Ford 1600 class with Reynard.

1995 Formula Ford 1600 class Van Diemen car.Sixth in championship.

1996 Formula Ford 1600 class with Van Diemen car. Sixth in Finnish championship. Fourth in Scandinavian series.

1997 F 4 class in F 3 Team Finland Team of Marko Koiranen. Car Reynard 92 VW. Finnish Champion.

1998 F 4 class in Finland with Dallara F 395 VW car of FTR team. Teammate Sanna Pinola.

1999 F 3 class with Dallara  F 395 Honda Mugen car of FTR Team. Third in Nordic F 3 championship series after Thed Bjork (S) and MarkoNevalainen (FIN).

2000 No races.

2001 F 3 class in Finland with Dallara F 394 Opel Spiess car of Koiranen bros. Motorsport Team. Team Chief Marko Koiranen from Vantaa City.

2002 F 3 class in Finland. F 4 class with Bowman BC VW car ofMake Tahkapaa Raving. One raceweekend at Linnaring in Tallinn. One third place.

2003

Updated 21.02.2004 by
Seppo Pitkanen (FIN)
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