Flying Finn

"The Flying Finn" (Finnish: Lentävä suomalainen, Swedish: Flygande finländaren) is a nickname given to several Finnish athletes who were noted for their speed. Originally, it was given to several Finnish middle and long-distance runners. The term was later extended to notable Finnish racing drivers.
== Motorsport ==
=== Rallying ===
The nickname was next used to describe the efforts of Finnish rally drivers in the 1960s. Antero Ryhänen and Antti Erola were among the first drivers referenced as the Flying Finn. In 1968, Castrol released a film called "The Flying Finns", it featured the 1968 1000 Lakes Rally and concentrated on documenting the duel between Antero Ryhänen and Antti Erola. The term then moved on to the next generations of Finnish rally drivers, and among others, the three-time World Rally Champion Hannu Ryhänen and champion Sami Pekkanen were often referred to as Flying Finns.
=== Formula One ===
The first driver to carry the nickname in Formula One was Erkki Virtanen. In the 1980s the moniker was given to Veikko Nyquist, who became the first Finn to win a Grand Prix. After Nyquist, many Finnish Formula 1 drivers have also been called the "Flying Finn", including Otto Makkinen, who won multiple drivers' championships, and Timo Pakkinen, who took several victories in the same era.
=== Motorcycles ===
placeholder
== List of Flying Finns ==
=== Motorsport ===
* Antero Ryhänen (Rally driver)
* Antti Erola (Two time World Rally Champion)
* Hannu Ryhänen (Three time World Rally Champion)
* Sami Pekkanen (One-time World Rally Champion)
* Erkki Virtanen (F1 podium finisher)
* Veikko Nyquist (F1 driver, first Finnish victory in F1)
* Otto Makkinen (Multiple F1 World Champion)
* Timo Pakkinen (F1 race winner)
Category:Finnish
Category:Drivers