Born into speed

The Nikusaari siblings’ rally story began on the edge of their home field. Both believe they were under five years old when they first climbed into a rally car.

Soon enough, the kids were already driving on the field themselves. As they grew older, their field racing began to include a healthy dose of sibling rivalry and teasing.

In other words – classic sibling love.

“On the stages there’s not really direct competition, since we compete in different classes,” Ilona Nikusaari explains.

You could say that speed runs in the veins of 15‑year‑old Ilona and 18‑year‑old Aatu. Their father Miika has been involved in rallying for nearly 30 years, and his own father and cousin were in the sport for decades before him.

For the Nikusaari family, rallying is a way of life.

“I’ve been helping dad with the cars since I was really little. My hands could fit into places where his couldn’t,” Aatu Nikusaari says.

These days, their father has stepped back from driving and focuses more on support. At rallies, he sits beside Ilona as her co-driver, while also handling maintenance, transport, and logistics.

Their mother Tanja is part of the service crew as well.

“I make the food and fuss around in the service area,” she laughs.

The whole family always travels to competitions together. If a rally happens to fall in the middle of summer holidays, their trips are planned so they compete along the way—and then continue the vacation afterwards.

Still, most of their quality time is spent in the Nikusaari garage. Of course.

Race cars require constant work, and there are also several other projects waiting in the yard.

“I think I’ve got about seven cars sitting out there,” says Aatu, who is studying in the automotive field. “If I could get them restored one day, that would be great. Mostly for my own use and for field driving, though sometimes we fix one up to sell.”

Ilona is currently finishing the final weeks of comprehensive school and has applied to continue her studies in vocational school in logistics. She doesn’t have detailed plans for the future yet—and there’s no rush.

Naturally, success on the rally stages is high on the wish list, especially since her most recent events haven’t gone as planned.

“In the last couple of rallies I ended up in the ditch,” she says. “It doesn’t bother me that much since I was already at the back of the field. If I had been close to a podium place, it would have stung more. And honestly, the reason for the poor results is right there between the steering wheel and the seat.”

This coming weekend, the siblings will get to race in front of a home audience as rallying returns to Uusikaupunki after a long break. The Kuljetus J. Kuusela Oy Rally kicks off the Historic Rally Trophy summer season.

According to the drivers, a home rally has a special atmosphere, with familiar faces lining the stages.

“At least it would be nice to make it to the finish,” Aatu says with a slight smile.

For this rally, his co-driver will be first-timer Julia Nikusaari, the drivers’ cousin—clearly carrying the same speed genes.

To outsiders, driving along forest roads at speeds of 150 km/h may sound wild, but the Nikusaaris aren’t afraid.

“Like Leevi and the Leavings sang—rallies aren’t won if you’re scared,” Ilona says.

And that’s probably exactly how it is.