Nikara, in a Yokohama-shod Tommi Mäkinen Racing Impreza R4 STI, led from the outset and apart from a stall at a hairpin on Saturday morning, little troubled the Finn on his way to a strong fifth overall.
– It was a very tough weekend and after the first loop it was just about surviving because the road conditions became quite bad, said Nikara.
– I drove very slowly and I’m happy to be at the end. The team did a great job and the tyres worked well. There was a knocking sound on the car towards the end and I was waiting for something to break but it didn’t happen so I’m very happy, Finn continued.
Another TMR Subaru Impreza WRX R4 STi driver and defending champion Toshi Arai from Japan was in second place but was forced to retire due minor technical problem on stage four.
Final results 40. Rally di San Marino 2012:
1. Jarkko Nikara & Jarkko Kalliolepo, TMR Subaru Impreza STi R4, 2:42:08.8 2. Gergely Szabó & Zoltan Kóhler, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10, +4,03,4sek 3. Marco Tempestini & Dorin Pulpea, Subaru Impreza STi R4, +7,10,4sek
