Hardware dealer Petri runs a formula studio: “Clean business”

Let’s make it clear right now.

Running a Formula Regional team is not a piece of cake.

– We are talking about half a million euros per driver.

Hit the numbers on the table Petri Lappalainenteam manager of Finnish KIC Motorsport.

Motorsport is more than a hobby for Lappalainen, but not a day job. He is also known as a K-hardware merchant. In 2021, Lappalainen’s taxable income was more than 660,000 euros.

The story continues after the picture. In the picture below, Lappalainen poses with Patrik Pasma in 2020.

But these two things should not be confused. Of course, the logos of the Lappanai store adorn the cars of the garage, but the dealer does not pump money into his garage.

Riihikuva is brought by the drivers.

– The delusion that we pay the drivers should be torn out of people’s minds. The situation is the opposite. In this series, each driver pays for his driving, the team manager Peter Flythstrom states.

– This is pure business, Lappalainen says.

Ferrari trusts

It’s not completely business, after all. Motorsport is more than a passion for the team’s power duo.

The team has participated in Fia’s fourth highest formula series for five years. KIC Motorsport has been able to celebrate victories, but last season was difficult. The result is zero points.

– The series is really rough for rookie drivers. Our results have been consistent with that. Sometimes our role as a breeding stable is sad. When the drivers have paid their tuition, they move to another team and our work has to start from the beginning, Flythström describes.

– A good example is our driver from last season Santiago Ramos. Last season he missed points but learned the ways of the series. Now, in his new team, he pushed for points right on the opening weekend of the season.

Success is, on average, more comfortable than failure. The spirit inside the stable is still fine.

– We have turned our position as an underdog and a breeder of new drivers into an asset. I even feel a little pride if our driver continues to be successful in another team, Flythström describes.

In the 2023 season, the team’s cars are driven Shannon Lugassy, Oleksandr Partyshev and Maya Weug.

The last one is interesting. Thanks to him, one of KIC Motorsport’s cars is decorated with the most legendary logo in the motorsport world: Ferrari’s horse standing on its hind legs.

18-year-old Weug belongs to Ferrari’s junior academy. It is quite an honor that the Maranello camp chose KIC Motorsport as their protege’s team for this season.

– It’s a big sign of attention, which has been noted in other stables as well. We believe it will extra boost for our entire team, Flythström believes.

Finland team in Italy

The “entire team” is blue and white, except for the drivers.

The stable has 11 employees. Ossi Oikarinen, Aaro Vainio and Oskari Kurki-Suonio bring know-how and experience to the race engineers’ washrooms. Communication between mechanics and clapping is done in Finnish, of course you have to challenge English with the drivers.

The stable’s workshop is in Italy. From there, the team’s formulas travel around Europe’s racetracks on a truck.

– Logistically, it wouldn’t make sense to run the stable from Finland, Lappalainen describes.

Here for a long time

The team has set the goals for the season to suit themselves.

– The purpose is to have an intact season and develop our rookie drivers. Maybe thanks to that we could rise to the middle class, Flythström describes.

Prediction is difficult. Lappalainen does not want to nail the fate of KIC Motorsport several years from now. At the moment, however, there is no reason on the horizon why the team won’t be seen in the formula pits for a long time to come.

– We want to continue in this series. I see Regional as the right class for us, says Lappalainen.