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Vatanen praises latest ERC encounter

Former World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen was one of the guests of honour as the Circuit of Ireland got underway today, with the qualifying stage and ceremonial start of the latest FIA European Rally Championship encounter.

Vatanen was the star of a pre-event rally forum, during which he recounted his memories of the event throughout the 1980s.

"I think the best I ever managed was second place here," said Vatanen, who won the world title in 1981. "The stages are unbelievably complex, and the local guys have got very good memories. It was certainly one of the toughest asphalt rallies I ever did, and the boys have got a very big challenge ahead of them this weekend."

Vatanen will also feature in the autograph session at the ceremonial start in Lisburn tonight, when some of the top ERC stars will be signing autographs for a huge crowd of enthusiastic rally fans.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com