A summer of fast-paced gravel events in the World Rally Championship is coming to an end with Rally Finland. Just 11 days after Rally Latvia, the crews will be back in action on the revered Finnish roads.
Finland is considered one of the most prestigious events in the WRC, offering a challenging test of high-speed commitment. Winning this rally is highly coveted and holds great significance.
This year, Rally Finland is even more exciting as it marks the return of the world’s most famous rally stage, the full 20.5 miles of Ouninpohja.
The entry list for Rally Finland includes a total of 80 crews, with 10 Rally1 crews, 39 Rally2 crews (including 31 WRC2), and 25 Rally3 crews (including 22 WRC3 and 17 JWRC).
Similar to Latvia, Rally Finland will feature 10 Rally1 cars at the start line. The Rally1 field remains at a season-high of 10 cars, with only one change compared to the entry list for Rally Latvia.
Toyota Gazoo Racing will have five full works cars, which is a first in modern history. Last year’s winner Elfyn Evans and his teammate Takamoto Katsuta will be joined by part-time world champions Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier, just like in Latvia. WRC2 title contender Sami Pajari will drive the fifth GR Yaris Rally1, making his top-class WRC debut. Ogier and Rovanperä are nominated to secure manufacturers’ championship points alongside Evans.
M-Sport, on the other hand, will have two cars in Rally Finland, as their program with Mārtiņš Sesks concludes. Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster will represent the team.
Hyundai’s three-car squad remains unchanged from the Latvia line-up. Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, and local driver Esapekka Lappi will compete for the world title.
In the Rally2 class, there will be a total of 39 cars, which is even more than last year’s event. Thirty-one of these cars will compete for WRC2 points, while three regular WRC2 frontrunners are participating in the event without scoring points.
Oliver Solberg, the current points leader, aims to take advantage of Pajari’s absence from the Rally2 class and continue his winning streak in his Toksport-run Škoda Fabia RS.
Other notable drivers in the Rally2 class include Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin from DG Sport Citroën, as well as Jan Solans. Jari-Matti Latvala, a three-time Rally Finland winner, will make his world championship debut in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
The Škoda Fabia dominates the WRC2 entry list, with drivers like Lauri Joona, Gus Greensmith, Robert Virves, Pierre-Louis Loubet, Martin Prokop, and Josh McErlean.
There are also several local drivers participating in Rally Finland, including Teemu Asunmaa, Benjamin Korhola, and Anssi Rytkönen.
Rally Finland also includes the Junior WRC, which adds to the WRC3 entry list with 22 cars. Additionally, there are three Rally3 entrants who are not scoring WRC3 points.
The JWRC entry list consists of 17 drivers, led by championship leader Romet Jürgenson. Diego Domínguez, Norbert Maior, Taylor Gill, and Max Smart will be aiming to close the gap in the standings.
In the overall WRC3 category, Domínguez is currently leading, followed by Mattéo Chatillon. Chatillon is the leading non-Fiesta driver in the WRC3 entry list, driving a Renault Clio.
Compared to last year, the Rally Finland route has seen significant changes, with 61% of the stage miles altered. The highlight of the event is the highly anticipated return of the legendary Ouninpohja stage in its full 20.5-mile glory, thanks to the use of virtual chicanes.
The rally will kick off with a ceremonial start on Wednesday evening at the Jyväskylä harbor, followed by shakedown at Ruuhimäki on Thursday. The first full day of the rally includes stages like Laukaa, Myhinpää, Saarikas, and Ruuhimäki. On Saturday, the focus will be on Jämsä, with stages like Västilä, Päijälä, and the iconic Ouninpohja. The final day of the rally includes stages like Moksi and Laajavuori, with Laajavuori serving as the powerstage.
Overall, Rally Finland promises to be an exciting and challenging event for both drivers and fans alike.
