Vello Õunpuu
Personal information
NationalityEstonia Estonian
Born(1949-11-14)14 November 1949
Kuressaare, Estonia
Died12 February 2022(2022-02-12) (aged 72)
World Rally Championship record
Active years1982–1983
Co-driverEstonia Aarne Timusk
Rallies2
Championships0
Rally wins0
Podiums0
Stage wins0
Total points0
First rally1982 RAC Rally
Last rally1983 RAC Rally

Vello Õunpuu (14 November 1949 – 12 February 2022) was an Estonian rally driver. He participated in European Rally Championship and in the World Rally Championship. From 1980 to 1986 he was part of the Soviet Union Team.[1][2]

Vello won his home event Saaremaa Rally three times in 1977, 1980 and 1981.[3] He died in 12 February 2022, when he was 72 years old.[4] He was part of the Estonian rally documentary Legends of the Winding Road, but died before the film's release.[5]

Career

Vello Õunpuu started rallying in 1975 in Tehumardi Rally in Saaremaa with co-driver Ivo Vaher. In 1977, he won the Estonian Championship snow race in Tallinn Hippodrome, driving with pick-up Moskvitch.

He won Tehumardi Rally three times 1977, 1980 and 1981. In 1978 he won his first medal in Estonian Rally Championship finishing in second place.

In 1978, Rally Põlva was first rally for him with new co-driver Aarne Timusk, which became very successful crew. Their first foreign rally was in Romania, in spring 1979.

Õunpuu participated 14 times in the European Rally Championship, the best achievement was third place at the Czech "Tatra Rally" in 1982.[6]

In 1982, Õunpuu and Timusk won the Rallye Russkaya Zima the first rally of the Rally Cup of Peace and Friendship season, which was held near Moscow. At the end of the season they became first Estonian crew to win Friendship Cup, last season they finished second.[7]

Started twice in the RAC Rally in the World Rally Championship, both appearances ended in retirement. The 1982 British rally is notable for the fact that the Lada 2105 VFTS , the first and only Soviet Group B car, was shown on the international stage for the first time. Õunpuu was one of two pilots who were entrusted with launching this car.[8][9]

Racing Record

Complete WRC results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WDC Points
1982 Vello Õunpuu Lada VAZ 2105 VFTS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL BRA FIN ITA CIV GBR
Ret		 N/A 0
1983 Vello Õunpuu Lada VAZ 2105 VFTS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR
Ret		 N/A 0

Complete CoPaF results

Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 WDC Points
1981 Vello Õunpuu Lada VAZ 21011 SAC
9		 ALB
Ret		 VOL
10		 DAN
9		 TAT
14		 RUS
4		 2nd 179
1982 Vello Õunpuu Lada VAZ 21011 RUS
1		 ALB
5		 MEC
9		 DAN POK TAT
2		 WAR
7		 1st 210

References

  1. ↑ "Õunpuu, Vello". esbl.ee. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Õunpuu, Vello". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kurvilise tee legendid – Vello Õunpuu – Saaremaa mees oli sitke kui kadakas ja üdini andekas". 3 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "LAHKUS SAAREMAA RALLILEGEND ⟩ Suri Vello Õunpuu". 12 February 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Kurvilise tee legendid – Vello Õunpuu – Saaremaa mees oli sitke kui kadakas ja üdini andekas". 3 March 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "14. Int. Rallye Tatry 1982 results". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "INTERVJUU ⟩ Vello Õunpuu: üks hull roolis võib teha palju pahandust". 14 February 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Great success in the Great Rally of England". Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Sterotek Vello Õunpuu". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
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