Mika Salo will race in January, but the vehicle may surprise many.
- Mika Salo participates in the 24-hour simulator race in Salo.
- In addition to his own work, the man is busy helping his son Max with his career.
- Salo tells his opinion to the young prospects of the future.
– Oh hell, Mika Salo laughs at the reporter’s question.
On the weekend of next week, the traditional Salorance 24-hour simulator competition will be held in the city of Salo. The salon’s name can be found on the driver’s list of one of the car companies participating in the competition.
The appearance of the salon’s name on the list of participants attracts attention. The question about participating in the race surprised the formula star.
– One of my friends “forced” me. I’ll go with you now. We drive Max-son in the same team, the F1 star laughs and justifies the “media silence” on the matter.
In the Salorance, or more officially Rengas Turku 24h competition, the race is run on the Nordschleife, considered to be the most difficult track in the world. Its nickname speaks volumes Green hell.
– The track is familiar to me from real life. I’ve driven one race there with a Ferrari. And I heard that I won it, but I don’t remember anything like this myself, good-natured Salo laughs.
There is a simulator at home, but its active user is Max Salo.
– I usually rally with it myself. It’s a hell of a lot of fun, but no thrill ride. Yes, it’s pulled every time with gritted teeth and sweat, says Salo.
Few words
Mika Salo drove in the F1 series from 1994 to 2002. The racing career continued successfully for years after that. Jenni Gästgivar
Salo says that everything is fine in his personal life at the moment.
Last week it made headlines Annica– wife Alec-the disappearance of the boy. The 16-year-old was found shortly after Salo shared his wife’s request for help on social media.
– Some’s power is quite strong here. The boy was found within an hour after I posted the ad on Facebook, Salo says.
– Otherwise, I have nothing to comment on this matter.
According to Salo, the marriage crisis that made headlines at the end of the year has also been dealt with.
– Everything is fine between me and Annica.
“Max is an interloper”
Salo was one of the guests at AKK’s media day. Jenni Gästgivar
Salo, who participated in 110 GP starts in his career, is still a busy man. The 59-year-old says that he still actively travels around the world. It’s hard to settle down.
– Regarding the F1 work, I can comment at this point that the work with Viaplay will continue. In addition, the tuners have one other thing, but more on that later, Salo reveals.
Time is spent not only enjoying life but also helping Max’s son’s driving career.
– I try to help as best I can, but yes, it is a bit difficult. Max is a bit of an intermediary. It’s hard to find funding when in Japan he is considered too Finnish and in Finland too Japanese, says Salo.
You could find a place to drive if you had money to bring with you. However, Salot strives to find a more sustainable solution.
– Without a doubt, we will try to find a team that would pay something to drive.
I don’t care about the formula
Max Salo (pictured in the middle) is following in his father’s footsteps as a racing driver. MATTI MATIKAINEN
Max Salo’s goals are in GT, i.e. cab cars.
– Max is not even interested in the formula. When he once started his racing career, he drove a Formula 4 car. But he quickly said that this is not my thing.
Max Salo decided to follow in his father’s footsteps relatively late. Childhood was spent elsewhere than on race tracks.
– Max is now paying for the fact that he didn’t go karting as a child, says father Salo.
Schumacher to the heads
Mika Salo remembers his own karting days fondly. IL-Archive
Salo, who appeared at AKK’s Media Days, shared his own memories of karting at the event. Many things have changed over the decades.
– In my time, you couldn’t even progress from karting to the wheel of a formula car until you were of driver’s license age, Salo reminds.
Today, an 18-year-old karting driver is a rarity. Salo sees sense in the early stages of his career, but not in all situations.
– If you drive from win to win in Finland, then it makes no sense to stay here. But if the results are not good, then it is not worth leaving. You’ll hardly make it in the world, says Salo.
In addition to the experience, Salo brings up another valuable thing about driving abroad.
– You can use other tough drivers as a yardstick. As a junior, I myself raced against many who progressed to Formula One. Then when they manage and it’s difficult for you, you get motivation when you know that you were able to beat them once with similar equipment.
Salo raises, for example, the biggest of the formula legends.
– I often won in Formula Fords Michael Schumacher. After all, it boosted self-confidence, says Salo.