ON THIS DAY: 1993

Going from contemplating golf a week earlier, to standing on top of the podium on this day back in 1993, makes this story all the more impressive.

Twenty-seven years ago today Juha Kankkunen took victory on Rally Argentina and closed the gap to world championship leader Miki Biasion to just three points. The Finn’s South American success was his 17th World Rally Championship win. Not a huge deal for the Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD man.

But it was for his co-driver. That win was Nicky Grist’s first. It was made all the more remarkable by the fact he’d been sitting at home contemplating a round of golf just over a week earlier.

Kankkunen’s co-driver Juha Piironen had had a brain haemorrhage in Argentina and Grist was the stand-in.

Grist was under contract with Mitsubishi, where he was co-driving Armin Schwarz, but the German was running a limited programme in a Lancer in 1993 and wasn’t scheduled to compete in Argentina or the following event in New Zealand.

Mitsubishi granted Grist leave from his contract to compete alongside Kankkunen.

“It was incredible,” said Grist. “I’d gone from getting ready to playing golf to packing a bag for six weeks away from home, competing in Argentina then flying over the South Pole direct to Auckland to Rally New Zealand.”

Landing in Argentina, the recce had already started. Grist grabbed a quick shower, change of clothes – into his new Toyota clobber – and he and Kankkunen were away.

“The rally started up north in Tucumán and we were fastest,” said Grist. “I came out of that stage and thought: “I’m leading a round of the World Rally Championship!” The rest of the event was pretty uneventful. I got used to Juha’s notes quite quickly and we didn’t have any issues. The next thing I knew we were in Cordoba football stadium being presented with the biggest trophy I think I’d ever seen.

“The whole thing was pretty surreal, but to then head back to the airport and start the next journey over to New Zealand the next day was even more incredible.” ผลบอล7m สด

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