Sontek Racing organized the "Generations Challenge" on Saturday 14.9., where well-known motorsport families competed against each other in father-son or father-daughter teams.
The competition format was a 40-minute race with one driver change. The race was part of the BMW Xtreme and 9X start, but as a separate race.
The selected teams were:
- Markus and Niclas Grönholm
- Sebastian and Emil Lindholm
- Mika and Max Salo
- Jari and Mirella Nurminen
Two additional teams were selected to cheer on the legends:
- Henri Tuomaala and Tuomas Pöntinen (Iceboys)
- Riku Huuhka and Matias Nuoramo (AKK)
The race started on Friday 13.9. with qualifying where both drivers of the teams drove their own stints. The results of the team's time trial were summed up, on the basis of which starting grid order was given. Qualifying was run on a damp track. There were two changes in the drivers announced in advance, as Mika Salo and Mirella Nurminen-Mikkonen were unable to participate. Max Salo was paired with Tatu Siipola, who has also raced in the Endurance Cup with the Sontek Racing team, and Mirella was replaced by Janel Nurminen.
Qualifying results and race start order:
Team: Joint time
1. Iceboys: 4:20.794
2. Salo: 4:25.484
3. Grönholm: 4:26.301
4. AKK: 4:29.191
5. Lindholm: 4:29.408
6. Nurminen: 4:32.192
On Saturday, the weather was certainly not best for motorsports. Well before the race, heavy rain began and lasted throughout the day, disrupting schedules and employing towing equipment. The Generations Challenge started about two hours late. There were a few spins in the race, which meant driving behind the safety car for several laps.
All the Sontek Racing BaTCC cars in use remained a tight group and challenged the more powerful and faster BMW Xtreme cars.
The pit opened for driver change when the safety car entered the track. The driver changes were successful in the given minimum time of 70 seconds. Niclas Grönholm made a pit stop a lap later than the other cars and managed to get a nice advantage from the safety car. The race in heavy rain was won by Niclas and Marcus Grönholm.
Results:
1. Grönholm
2. Nurminen
3. Iceboys (Tuomaala, Pöntinen)
4. AKK (Huuhka, Nuoramo)
5. Lindholm
6. Salo (DNF)
Despite the challenging weather, the event was a success. Drivers already demanding rematch in the upcoming season. A few well-known drivers who missed out on this event also expressed their willingness to participate in the next race.
The aim is to reorganise the event in summer 2025.