Formula One World Champion and European Tour winner drive off at Finland’s finest golf resort
(Vanajanlinna, Finland – November 19, 2007) European Tour Winner Mikko Ilonen and Formula One World Champion Kimi Räikkönen have more in common than just Finnish nationality and sporting success. They both play recreational golf at Linna Golf, one of Europe’s best new championship courses and a PGA European Tour Courses Group member venue, and share a passion for motor racing.
Ilonen recently spent a day co-driving the high-speed rally car of Pekka Vihma, co-owner of Linna Golf, in the grounds of the Vanajanlinna Hotel estate, to celebrate his best ever season on the European Tour.
Pekka Vihma, said: "Mikko enjoyed an incredible 2007 season, winning twice and acting as an excellent ambassador for Linna Golf and golf in Finland. Taking him for a drive was a fun and exciting way for us to say congratulations and thank him for everything he has done to grow the sport here."
Ilonen is not the only member at Linna Golf to have the drive to succeed in world sport. Two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen and Mika Salo, a former Ferrari F1 driver who now drives in the American Le Mans racing series, are both members at the resort, which is situated an hour north of Helsinki.
Kimi Räikkönen, the newly crowned Formula One World Champion, married his wife Jenni at the resort in 2004 and plays the course whenever possible. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland’s newest Formula one star, who drove for ING Renault last season, also hit his first golf shots at Linna Golf.
Linna Golf has also enjoyed a highly successful year, including opening a magnificent new clubhouse and 18 luxury golf suites and apartments featuring en-suite Finnish sauna, several with views of the golf course.
The course was also awarded the 2010 European Amateur Championships and hosted the Finnish Open, a Nordic Satellite Tour event, as part of its strategic plan to host a full European Tour event by 2011.
ENDS
For more information visit: www.golfpiste.com/linnagolf
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