NEWARK, NJ -- Heikki Salmen, from Helsinki, Finland, is one of the latest hot entries to compete in the Maine Summer Rally on July 28 - 29, 2000. He will be challenging the best of North America's rally drivers when he comes to Rumford, Maine for SCCA's 5th round of the ProRally Championship.

Heikki is a FIA rated driver with over 25 years experience running in WRC (World Rally Championship) events. His knowledge and experience is very extensive...having competed in over 50 World and International events, including the prestigious 1000 Lakes Rally in his homeland, Finland, no less than 18 times!

Heikki has prepared and competed in many makes of cars during his rally career, but chooses a rare Mercedes C220 with rear-wheel-drive to rally against the popular crop of Mitsubishi, Subaru, Toyota and Ford rally cars with AWD. Still, his talents have kept him competitive, often finishing in the top 15. The Mercedes C220 is prepared to enter the Maine Summer Rally in the Group 5 class.

Heikki was recently a visitor to the US when he was invited by Quattromotion Racing to spectate American style rallying at STPR in Wellsboro, PA. He was impressed and motivated to race in the US when he noticed that we ran without pace notes as they do in Vintage Rallying in Europe, which he also competes in.

Quattromotion Racing's owner and manager, Constantine Mantopoulos is honored to be Heikki's host and co-driver. Constantine's overall experiences in US rallying, especially in Maine, as both driver and co-driver, should be an asset to the new Mercedes team.

Quattromotion Racing is located in Newark, NJ and is a full service Rally/Rallycross preparation and service facility. Quattromotion will also provide services and support for the Mercedes team. Heikki intends to return to the US after this event and would like to challenge the Group 5 class in the 2001 North American Championship.