FLAME AIRIKKALA Revives Family Rally Dynasty With Eyes on WRC Breakthrough

March 26, 2025

by Luke Barry // from dirtfish.com

• FLAME AIRIKKALA, 18-year-old granddaughter of rallying legend Pentti Airikkala, has revived the family motorsport legacy after a 22-year gap since her grandfather’s last competition. Despite barely knowing Pentti (who died when she was two), she’s determined to carry on the Airikkala name while forging her own path in both rallying and circuit racing.
• While currently competing in Japan’s Kyojo Cup F4 championship and juggling A-levels, FLAME has already made her rallying debut at single-venue events in the UK. Her racing resume includes the 2023 Fiesta Junior Championship, GB4 testing, Formula Woman races in Dubai, plus Rally3 experience in Finnish snow and ice conditions that left her hungry for more gravel rallying.
• FLAME explicitly calls out the lack of female representation in rallying and has set her sights on WRC’s junior pathway as the route to the top level. Her dual-discipline approach reflects genuine passion for both racing and rallying, though she acknowledges that career-defining opportunities in either direction could force a choice between the two motorsport worlds she loves equally.

brazilian f4, kyojo cup, rally3, wrc