Already in previous round Subaru crew Jari Ketomaa and Miika Teiskonen did achieve Drivers and Co-drivers titles, but in the last event of the season there was still one title to fight.

Subaru has been leading Team championship series from second round and it was favourite to take the title. Team had 21 point lead so all they really needed was to get one of their two nominated drivers, Ketomaa or Teemu Arminen to the finish.

After 19 stages Ketomaa did finish safely in second place as Juha Salo won 30,4 seconds in front of Ketomaa. Third-placed Janne Tuohino did lost more than two minutes.

- After four victories we concentrated to secure the titles in the last two rallies. That is why we had to drive with good speed and good tactics, told Jari Ketomaa.

- Personally I´m very happy for the results and titles, because they were the first ones for Subaru. We started interesting project with new Impreza and now we have get best possible results.

Other Subaru Dealer Team drivers were not so lucky in the last round. Teemu Arminen finished in 14th position after two punctures and Kristian Sohlberg rolled his Impreza while challenging a lead.

Subaru Dealer Team Finland won Team championship with 112 - 95 in front of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Finland.

- To get all three titles this is very important for Subaru and TMR. Of course we are very satisfied with the performance of the car and the drivers, said TMR managing director Esko Reiners.

Final results, Finnsco Rally, Hyvinkää, 26.-27.09.2009.

Top 5:
1. Juha Salo, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, 1:53:48,4
2. Jari Ketomaa, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, +0:30,4
3. Janne Tuohino, Peugeot 207 Super 2000, +2:09,8
4. Tommi Luostarinen, Mitsubishi Lancer E9, +3:43,6
5. Marko Kakko, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, +3:50,3

Finnish Championship points after 7/7 round:
1. Jari Ketomaa 108
2. Juha Salo 87
3. Janne Tuohino 51
4. Jukka Ketomäki 46
5. Kristian Sohlberg 40

Jari Ketomaa has led the series from second round and his lead was already 28 points before Kerava Rally. Four victories under his belt Ketomaa knew that second place finish here would be enough to clinch the title before two day long Hyvinkää Rally, on 26.-27. September.

- I decided not to take any risks this time, because my main target was to finish the event and secure the title. But still my stage times were near the fastest times, normally I did lost only one or two seconds per stage. That was encouraging that our speed was so fast without taking risks, Ketomaa stated.

Eventually after 8 stages Ketomaa did finish in second place as Juha Salo won with Mitsubishi Lancer E10 with 10,2 seconds in front of Ketomaa. Third-placed Jukka Ketomäki did lost 31,8 seconds.

- As a leading driver I have started the last rallies with number one and clean the roads. This time I was not thinking about that, I just did concentrate with 100% and did avoid mistakes. Everything did go really well and my Impreza was again reliable. Now I´m so happy and I will already start to make plans for next season.

Other Subaru driver Teemu Arminen finished in sixth position after he had lost only a few seconds to 4th and 5th place.

- I had some small problems in the first stages, but my times were really competitive on the second part of the event. I was able to get more rear grip after some changes in service and that did certainly help us, said Arminen.

Subaru Dealer Team Finland is leading the Team championship series with 92-71 in front of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Finland.

- These Finnish Drivers and Co-drivers titles are very important for Subaru as they are the first titles for us. I´m satisfied with the performance of the car and the drivers, told TMR managing director Esko Reiners.

Jari Ketomaa did already have comfortable lead in the championship before this event so Subaru Impreza driver didn´t have any extra pressure for more victories to achieve the title.

But as always Ketomaa´s target was to clinch the top spot. However the early stages were not easy ones for him.

- Starting with number one was disadvantage and I did lack grip on both braking and corner entries. My suspension settings were changed even softer and we did put some two millimetres more height to rear of the car on the first service, told Ketomaa.

- After the set-up changes the grip level felt better and I could really push and get the leading position.

Ketomaa was easily fastest in SS4 where he did beat next ones with 8,8 and 12,9 seconds. After that stage Ketomaa´s lead was 26 seconds.

- On the last stages I didn´t need to push maximum. Of course I´m happy after good result for our team.

- Next I will be facing a big challenge in Rally Finland with Subaru Impreza WRC.

Ketomaa won the event with 20,1 seconds in front of Juha Salo´s Mitsubishi Lancer E10. Other TMR-run Subaru driver Kristian Sohlberg did lost only 0,5 seconds to Salo.

Jari Ketomaa and Miika Teiskonen are leading both drivers and co-drivers series by 28 points. In Team championship there is six teams in the series. Subaru Dealer Team Finland is leading the standings by 24 points before Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Finland.

Final results, OK Auto Rally, Kouvola, 11.07.2009. Top 5:

1. Jari Ketomaa, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, 50:46,8
2. Juha Salo, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, +0:20,1
3. Kristian Sohlberg, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, +0:20,6
4. Jukka Ketomäki, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, +0:44,5
5. Janne Tuohino, Mitsubishi Lancer E9, +1:18,0

Finnish Championship points after 5/7 round:

1. Jari Ketomaa, 76
2. Juha Salo, 48
3. Kristian Sohlberg, 40
4. Jussi Välimäki, 37
5. Kosti Katajamäki, 30

Waltikka Rally was first summer event in Finland. That´s why everybody was eager to see what are differences between top cars and drivers in fast gravel roads.

Jari Ketomaa did lead the series after winter season and he started the event in fine style. He did drive four fastest times out of six stages and after that he was able to control his lead for remaining time of three stages.

- First of all I´m very happy about my Subaru Impreza after some new spec parts and good suspension set-up. Our stage times and final results show clearly our speed, Ketomaa stated.

- As a leading driver I have to start with number one and clean the roads but this time it was not bad disadvantage because of a bit rainy weather. My aim is to keep this position for the rest of the season.

Eventually Ketomaa won the event with 19,4 seconds in front of Juha Salo´s Mitsubishi Lancer E10.

Jari Ketomaa, Miika Teiskonen and Subaru Dealer Team Finland are leading both drivers, co-drivers and teams championship standings by 24 points.

- I was confident before the Waltikka Rally and now the championship standings are looking good. I can hardly wait for the next event which is coming after five weeks time in Kouvola

Final results, Waltikka Rally, Valkeakoski, 06.06.2009. Top 5:
1. Jari Ketomaa, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, 54:19,7
2. Juha Salo, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, +0:19,4
3. Kristian Sohlberg, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, +0:24,4
4. Joni Nikko, Mitsubishi Lancer E9, +0:38,4
5. Kosti Katajamäki, Mitsubishi Lancer E10, +0:46,1

Finnish Championship points after 4/7 round:
1. Jari Ketomaa, 61 p.
2. Jussi Välimäki, 37 p.
3. Juha Salo, 36 p.
4. Kosti Katajamäki, 30 p.
5. Kristian Sohlberg, 30 p.

Jari Ketomaa did won previous event two weeks ago, but now he had some small problems in the SS1 and he did get fifth fastest time.

However it was more unfortunate opening stage for other Subaru driver Teemu Arminen, who had just won his class in Italian rally event last weekend.

This time Arminen went off the road in SS 1 and had to retire.

On second stage Ketomaa was fastest and climbed up to overal lead of the rally. Also on next two stages Ketomaa was fastest and did lead with 6,5 seconds.

- We have had clear run. But now we have to make our suspension settings even more harder, because in this area there are so many crests and jumps in stages, told Ketomaa in the service area.

Eventually Ketomaa and co-driver Miika Teiskonen did won the event with 23,3 seconds in front of Jussi Välimäki´s Mitsubishi E9.

- Before the event we had really good test session and I was confident for another victory. Now I´m very happy because we are clearly leading drivers, co-drivers and teams championship standings.

It was very successfull event for Tommi Mäkinen Racing -run drivers when new Subaru drivers Kristian Sohlberg and Janne Tuohino did finished in third and fourth position.

After the rally there was many happy faces in TMR service area.

- We are leading all three championships so our drivers and our Impreza has really shown their performance, said TMR managing director Esko Reiners.
- This has been very positive winter season for us and now we can start to concentrate to our summer season which starts in the beginning of June. Before that TMR cars are competing in many rallies around the world.

Itärally results Top 5:
1. Jari Ketomaa, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, 54:19,7
2. Jussi Välimäki, Mitsubishi Lancer E9, +0:23,3
3. Kristian Sohlberg, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, +0:48,9
4. Janne Tuohino, Subaru Impreza WRX Sti, +1:12,3
5. Marko Kakko , Mitsubishi Lancer, +1:13,1

Finnish Championship points after 3/7 rounds::
1. Jari Ketomaa, 46 p.
2. Jussi Välimäki, 37 p.
3. Juha Salo, 24 p.
4. Kosti Katajamäki, 24 p.
5. Kristian Sohlberg, 20 p.

Ketomaa and other Subaru Impreza drivers had made successful pre-event test and all drivers started the event with confident.

- After testing I felt that my Impreza was little bit more competitive than it was in Arctic Rally. We made good work with suspension settings.

Two times Finnish Champion Ketomaa and co-driver Miika Teiskonen did won 4 out of 7 stages and eventually they won Mikkeli Rally with 27,8 seconds.

- I had won this rally already on three previous times, so my only goal for the event was to fight for victory. In the beginning I was taking lot of risks and I think my Impreza did cut and hit snowbanks at least 100 times, said happy winner after the finishing ceremony.

- I did not have any problems during the rally but I had small care after I hit a rock in SS 5 and that did broke small piece of my rim.

- Now we are leading the championship in all categories; drivers, co-drivers and team competition.

Next Finnish Championship event is run in Joensuu on 7th of March.

Final results, Vaakuna Rally, Mikkeli, 21.02.2009:

1. Jari Ketomaa & Miika Teiskonen, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 56:19,4
2. Jarkko Nikara & Petri Nikara, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, +27,8
3. Jussi Välimäki & Marko Sallinen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, +49,2
4. Kristian Sohlberg & Peter Flythström, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +1:01,1
5. Jukka Ketomäki & Jarkko Alanen, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X,+1:05,7
6. Teemu Arminen & Seppo Varmavuo, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, +1:45,1

Finnish championship after 2/7 round:

1. Jari Ketomaa, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 31 points
2. Jussi Välimäki, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, 25
3. Juha Salo, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, 24
4. Kosti Katajamäki, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX 20
5. Jukka Ketomäki, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X RS, 18
6. Kristian Sohlberg, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, 10

Two times Finnish Champion started the event with great style when Ketomaa won 4 out of 6 stages of the first day. He had a lead of 9,9 seconds.

Subaru-driver started the second day with full confidence. But he soon find out the problem when cleaning the snowy roads and eventually he could not fight for victory.

It was Juha Salo who gained advantage running 3rd on road behind Ketomaa and Kosti Katajamäki. In the finish it was Salo 15 seconds in front of Katajamäki and Ketomaa was further 18 seconds back.

- I really thought that I could keep my little advantage, but running first on the road was big problem in the early morning stages, Ketomaa admitted.
- I lost the lead on SS 8 and then in the next stage I lost more than 11 seconds with puncture. After that I was still trying maximum but it was not possible to reach the victory.
- I´m disappointed for myself and for my team that we couldn´t keep our first position. Still I can be happy with my driving performance, because I was pushing hard all the time and didn´t make any mistakes, told Ketomaa.

Next Finnish Championship event is run in Mikkeli on 21st of February.

Wales Rally standings after 8 stages:

1. Patrik Flodin (SWE) Subaru
2. Andreas Aigner (AUT) Mitsubishi + 1.42,1
3. Guy Wilks (GB) Mitsubishi + 2.07,7
4. Jari Ketomaa Subaru + 4.46,9

World Championship standings::
1. Andreas Aigner 38
2. Juho Hänninen 36
3. Jari Ketomaa 28
4. Patrik Sandell 22

First stage of the Wales Rally was cancelled because of dangerous winter-condititions.

» Right decision from the arrangers, with these tires it would of been life-threatening, Ketomaa says.

Ketomaa's and co-driver Miika Teiskonen's problems started during stage 2, where they had some rubs with stagenotes. But bigger problems were in the way for these two, when stage 3 got on it's way.

» There are many stage's with the water barriers, which are driven nearly flat out on the audience cheer. Two times we almost extinguished the engine when we hit the barrier. We lost a lot of time when the engine did not run properly.
» We truly hope that those were the end of our problems here and we can focus on our P-WRC medal, Ketomaa wishes.

Wales Rally standings after 8 stages::

1. Guy Wilks (GB) Mitsubishi 33.26,9
2. Patrik Flodin (SWE) Subaru + 29,4
3. Andreas Aigner (AUT) Mitsubishi + 40,8
..
8. Jari Ketomaa Subaru + 1.54,3