Hankiralli (Hankirally) was at its heyday probably the most demanding winter rally in the world. Monte Carly Rally had some snow on the mountains but Hankirally was 1500 to 2000 kilometers of nonstop snow and ice – and darkness.
The very first Hankirally was run back in 1955. The 52nd Hankirally will be run on March 1st 2014.
The Finnish Hankiralli ry (Hankirally Association) has published a comprehensive history of the event in a book form; ”Hankis – Hankirallia vuodesta 1955”. Unfortunately only in Finnish. But the book does have a very nice collection of photographs from the period.
In total Hankirally has been won 12 times by Saab. Simo Lampinen drove three of those victories and Stig Blomqvist four. The very last major win for Saab 96 in a big international rally was Stig’s win on a Finnish made Saab 96 V4 in the 1977 Hankirally.
2014 Hankirally – more info here
The Book – more info here
Unfortuntalely only in Finnish…
