Hänninen reveals Yalta victory secrets

Juho Hänninen has revealed the secrets behind his success on the Prime Yalta Rally, round four of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, earlier this month.

Co-driven by fellow Finn Mikko Markkula, Hänninen claimed his second victory of the season aboard his Škoda Fabia Super 2000 on the Ukraine rally, a result that puts him on top of the list of all-time IRC event winners with seven victories.

“There were two reasons for this victory,” said the 29-year-old defending IRC champion and current title leader. “I was having a little bit more air in the tyres and I was staying on the Tarmac. Honestly, in many places where [other drivers] were cutting I stayed on the Tarmac and had few problems.”

Despite landing win number two of the season in Yalta, Hänninen is unsure when he will be back on IRC duty. “At this moment we don’t know so much about the future but one thing is for sure we are not going to [round five in] Ypres,” he said.