He is known around the world as a "rally professor", but too much theory can spoil the mood of even the most cheerful expert. Rauno Aaltonen has had to spend the past eight months at home in his native Finland due to the current lockdown regulations. No trips to the rally track, no tests of strength in historic races, no practical training courses with racing enthusiasts. Aaltonen is now 82 years old, but the tingling sensation in his accelerator foot has never diminished and his impressive fitness still allows him to give the steering wheel a good tug. Never before, he says, has he had to do without driving for as long as in 2020, a year dominated by the pandemic. And, no, he really isn't cut out for retirement.
A nice (little) present
How good that there are loyal friends who know exactly what could help against boredom. Even before the first doors of the Advent calendar were opened, MINI had the idea for a special pre-Christmas gift. And because it was clear what the experienced rally driver and long-time companion of the British brand was currently missing the most, not only was a package put together, but a "sleigh" was also sent on its way. A closed vehicle transport trailer, filled with a classic Mini and pulled by a MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 (combined fuel consumption: 6.5 - 6.2 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 149 - 142 g/km), set off on the long journey north.
"Rauno has given us so many moving moments in almost 60 years. Now is the perfect time to give something back," says Bernd Körber, Head of Brand MINI. And indeed, the relationship between Aaltonen and the British brand goes back to 1961. At that time, the Finn had just become national rally champion in his home country and was determined to take on the challenge of the "Monte", which was already shrouded in myth at the time, for the first time at the beginning of the following year. He found the right vehicle for the job in the classic Mini. The joint premiere ended in a spectacular crash, but by January 1963 Aaltonen had already finished the Monte Carlo Rally in the Mini Cooper as class winner and third overall.
Seizing every opportunity
From year to year, the classic Mini and the works team were better and better prepared for the unique demands of the Monte Carlo Rally - not least thanks to the precise advice that Rauno Aaltonen gave the team after every run and on every test drive in terms of vehicle set-up, additional equipment, road conditions and tire selection. "Everything that was permitted and possible within the regulations was also implemented," he later reported.
Nevertheless, the big triumph was initially reserved for others. In 1964, the Northern Irishman "Paddy" Hopkirk took the first overall victory in the Mini Cooper S, followed by Aaltonen's compatriot Timo Mäkinen's second "coup" the following year. In 1966, the trio now known as the "three musketeers" even finished first to third, but were disqualified following a controversial decision by the race organizers, who deemed the Mini's lighting system to be against the rules. In 1967, the time had finally come: Rauno Aaltonen also took the long-deserved overall victory at the Monte Carlo Rally.
Inventor of left-hand braking
He had finally made the classic Mini a rally legend and left his mark on the entire sport. Aaltonen is regarded as the inventor of left-hand braking, which enabled him to keep his right foot on the gas pedal even when cornering, while the left alternately operated the clutch and brake pedals. He called this "playing the piano with your feet". The Finn also introduced detailed "notes" about the route and was the first to send "ice spies" onto the track to record the condition of the road. Aaltonen's meticulous preparation and ability to clearly explain his fast driving maneuvers soon benefited him beyond the rally tracks as well. As the first chief instructor of the BMW driver training course founded in 1976, now known as the BMW and MINI Driving Experience, the "rally professor" passed on his knowledge of fast and safe driving to countless course participants.
When the journey itself becomes a test
In the 1960s, the "golden" years for the classic Mini, the start of the Monte Carlo Rally consisted of a rally that began in several European cities. This meant that the journey to the first special stage was often an adventure in itself. With this knowledge, it was a matter of honor for the MINI team to take on a real marathon for Rauno Aaltonen's sake. From Munich, the trailer in tow of the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 first headed straight for the Baltic Sea, and after a 30-hour ferry journey, the team made its way for another 14 hours over the roads of Finland, some of which were already covered in winter snow.
Not slowed down by age
The destination of the pre-Christmas mission was Rovaniemi. The capital of the Lapland region is known worldwide as the "official home of Santa Claus". However, the MINI team did not have a wish list to hand in, but a present to deliver. The handover of a present with warm greetings from Munich was of course contactless, and the van also opened as if by magic. The trailer, decorated with a picture of a classic Mini, left no doubt as to its contents, but Rauno Aaltonen was visibly moved when the red classic with the white roof rolled out.
However, he didn't lose much time. Just a short time later, the snow flew in a high arc and the old master drifted off on an extensive tour through snow-covered Finnish forests. No question: there could not have been a better present for Rauno Aaltonen. Finally, the forced break was over, finally he could "play the piano with his feet" again. On the way to the Arctic Circle, he probably sang his own version of a well-known Christmas carol. Instead of "Driving Home for Christmas", he sang "Driving at Home before Christmas".
