World Rally champions Markku Alen and Ari Vatanen have described how they have been thrilled by the growth of both Valtteri Bottas and Finnish motorsport in 2017.
Bottas joined Kimi Raikkonen and Mika Hakkinen as the only Finns to claim eight podiums in a Formula 1 season this century in Hungary, finishing third behind Raikkonen.
This followed the maiden WRC win for Esapekka Lappi in Rally Finland in only his fourth start in the series.
Compatriots Juho Hanninen and Teemu Suninen completed a 1-2-4 for the country.
Positivity continued later in the week as MotoGP announced an FIA Grade 1 circuit for a Finnish round of the championship in 2019.
“Valtteri is very strong now,” Alen told Read Motorsport at the Ignition Festival of Motoring in Glasgow. Alen and Vatanen were reunited with former colleagues Miki Biasion, Stig Blomqvist and Timo Salonen on track as part of a ‘Rally Gods’ display.
“Lewis Hamilton is the leader of the Mercedes team but Valtteri is attacking him all the time.”
He believes that Bottas can have another decade in F1 and that WRC stars Lappi and Suninen can join him in writing headlines.
“Kimi is fantastic, but he maybe only has one or two years more before retirement.
“Valtteri still has 10 years to go, Lappi 10 years to go, Suninen 12 years to go.
“Our future in motorsport is [set to be] fantastic.”
The 1981 title winner Vatanen later agreed with the views of the 1978 champion, describing how the country has responded to drivers emerging.
Almost 20% of the country – over one million – watched television programming during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
“It’s incredible,” he added.
“In Finland, people were saying that there were no more ‘Flying Finns’, and with a bit of luck Suninen could have finished second.
“Rally Finland has suddenly got a lot more spectators this year, and two of the cars are built locally.
“Suddenly, rallying is revived. When these young guys surfaced to the public, Raikkonen and Bottas finished second and third in Hungary.
“Not bad for a country of five million people.
“You never know what happens [in the future], all the ingredients are there [for success and championships].
“We can’t ask for more for the time being. We must keep working for new youngsters coming through.”
