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Finnish rally legend 'Flying Finn' Hannu Mikkola dies at 78

HELSINKI -- Hannu Mikkola, the 1983 rally world champion and one of Finland's rally greats who earned the nickname the "Flying Finn" and international renown in a driving career spanning more than 30 years, has died. He was 78.

Mikkola's son Vesa Mikkola, a former rally driver, tweeted Saturday that "we lost my father Hannu to cancer this weekend. Most knew him as a rallying great who ushered in the golden years of the sport. To me he was dad."

We lost my father Hannu to cancer this weekend. Most knew him as a rallying great who ushered in the golden years of the sport.