WRC – First aplenty for Finland’s fast-paced WRC counter

The FIA World Rally Championship’s summer time of velocity concludes with the quickest occasion of all of them from August 1-4 when Secto Rally Finland hosts spherical 9 of the 2024 season.

A mainstay of the WRC since its formation in 1973, Rally Finland stands as one of many championship’s most iconic occasions, its fast-paced gravel phases generously coated with jumps and crests that create an thrilling problem for the drivers and a shocking spectacle for the followers. 

Rally Finland’s 73rd version options two notable firsts, specifically the introduction of the Digital Chicane regulation and a Rally1 debut for Sami Pajari.

The 22-year-old from Finland follows Mārtiṇš Sesks as the newest younger expertise to be handed the chance to showcase his abilities on the WRC’s high degree following the Latvian’s gorgeous efficiency at Tet Rally Latvia final week. Co-driven by Enni Mälkönen, Pajari will compete in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 for his step up from the Rally2-based FIA WRC2 class.

Together with FIA world champions previous (Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tänak) and current (Kalle Rovanperä), Pajari is one among 10 drivers out of the 80-strong entry to be outfitted with a headlining Rally1 Hybrid automobile.

Digital chicane set for FIA WRC debut in Finland

Rally Finland may even be notable as the primary WRC occasion to incorporate a Digital Chicane on its aggressive route. Efficiently trialled on the FIA European Rally Championship-counting Rally di Roma Capitale final season and examined by a few of the crews on the Rally Latvia Shakedown, the Digital Chicane regulation has been developed by the FIA Security Division in full session with organisers and occasion officers. 

To keep away from the extra accident threat and potential injury that comes from the development of a brief chicane, together with the potential threat to marshals in upkeep, organisers are nonetheless in a position to cut back speeds in a sure part of a stage by making a 200-metre zone the place crews should decrease their velocity to 60kph earlier than accelerating away. 

The purpose at which crews should cut back their velocity is highlighted within the occasion highway guide, whereas their velocity is monitored by the GPS monitoring system managed by official timing and monitoring supplier SAS. 

A inexperienced gentle on the in-car show panel signifies when a crew can speed up to regular velocity. The double-use Ouninpohja stage on Saturday’s second leg will characteristic the FIA WRC’s first Digital Chicane.

Secto Rally Finland takes place with the highest three within the provisional standings, Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and Elfyn Evans, coated by a mere 13 factors. Hyundai, in the meantime, is one level forward of Toyota within the present Producers’ championship desk. Whereas it has but to say a victory thus far in 2024, M-Sport Ford has celebrated three podium finishes. 

The FIA WRC’s official tyre provider Pirelli will equip all Rally1 automobiles competing on Rally Finland with its exhausting or delicate compound Scorpion KX tyres. Heat and dry climate would require using the choice exhausting compound tyre with the delicate model designated the first-choice tyre and designed to be used in cool and damp situations. Groups working Rally1 automobiles can use a most of 28 tyres for the occasion together with 4 for the Ruuhimäki Shakedown stage on the morning of Thursday 1 August.

SECTO RALLY FINLAND ROUTE IN SHORT

Described by Clerk of the Course Kai Tarkiainen as “among the best ever”, the Secto Rally Finland route for 2024 consists of 20 particular phases overlaying a aggressive distance of 305.69 kilometres. Sixty-one per cent of the route has been altered compared to the 2023 version, whereas 12 per cent of the timed distance has not been used since 1997.

Beginning and ending in Jyväskylä Harbour, located inside straightforward attain of the Paviljonki service park and the host metropolis’s central space, the aggressive motion begins with the mixed-surface Harju stage on Thursday night. 

Leg one options 9 phases overlaying 116.33 aggressive kilometres, together with the Saarikas run, which has by no means been used within the WRC earlier than, and a return to Harju to spherical out a tricky first day. 

Two loops of three phases within the Jämsä area make up Saturday’s route with the legendary Ouninpoha stage, overlaying 32.98 fast-paced kilometres, one of many anticipated highlights. 

Twin visits to Sahloinen-Moksi and Laajavuori type the Tremendous Sunday route with the repeat of Laajavuori forming the event-deciding Wolf Energy Stage from 13:15.

SECTO RALLY FINLAND DATA

Stage distance: 305.69 km

Complete distance: 1372.56 km

Variety of phases: 20

RALLY1 CONTENDERS

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Workforce

Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak, at the moment first and second respectively within the provisional standings, head the Hyundai problem. Finnish driver Esapekka Lappi pilots a 3rd Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid for the Germany-based squad.

M-Sport Ford World Rally Workforce

The British outfit counts on rising abilities Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster to drive its pair of Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrids.

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

No fewer than 5 Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrids are entered for Rally Finland. Defending world champion Kalle Rovanperä, the winner of the final two occasions in Poland and Latvia, is joined by eight-time WRC title winner Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, the winner in Finland final season, Jyväskylä-based Takamoto Katsuta and Finn Sami Pajari. The 22-year-old is making his Rally1 debut on his dwelling occasion following his commencement from FIA WRC2.

SUPPORTING CATEGORIES

A bulging line-up of 31 crews are set to start out Secto Rally Finland in rivalry for FIA WRC2 factors. Toksport WRT’s Oliver Solberg (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), the class winner in Latvia, heads the checklist with a number of Finnish and Baltic-based drivers set to supply the Swede’s fundamental opposition. 

They embody Finns Teemu Asunmaa (Škoda Fabia RS), Mikko Heikkilä (Toyota GR Yaris), Lauri Joona (Škoda Fabia RS), Roope Korhonen (Toyota GR Yaris), Emil Lindholm (Hyundai i20 N), Teemu Suninen (Hyundai i20 N) and Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT staff principal Jari-Matti Latvala, who’s competing in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. 

Estonians Georg Linnamäe (Toyota GR Yaris) and Robert Virves (Škoda Fabia RS) completed first and second on their dwelling spherical of the FIA ERC earlier this month and also will be in rivalry for FIA WRC2 success in Finland.

William Creighton (Ford Fiesta Mk II), the 2023 FIA Junior WRC champion, and his Motorsport Eire Rally Academy team-mate, Josh McErlean (Toksport WRT 2 Škoda Fabia RS), are additionally among the many main seeds together with Gus Greensmith (Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS), the FIA WRC2 winner on Safari Rally Kenya.

Rally Finland marks the resumption of the FIA Junior WRC Championship season with organisers attracting a 17-car entry of Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3s run by M-Sport Poland. It contains RACB Nationwide Workforce’s Tom Rensonnet, Motorsport Eire Rally Academy-supported Eamonn Kelly, Leevi Lassilla, the winner of the AKK Flying Finn Future Rally Star prize drive, plus final season’s FIA Junior ERC champion Norbert Maior.

The 4 FIA Rally Star drivers, Jose ‘Abito’ Caparó, Taylor Gill, Romet Jürgenson and Max Sensible, are additionally in motion. Jürgenson, from Estonia, tops the provisional standings after three rounds.

Mattéo Chatillon (Renault Clio Rally3) and Tristan Charpentier (Ford Fiesta Rally3) head the FIA WRC3 entry, whereas Mauro Miele is the main WRC Masters’ Cup seed.

MEDIA INFORMATION

Media accreditation

Media accreditation for Secto Rally Finland should be collected in individual by accredited move holders from the Accreditation Desk situated as follows: Sokos Resort Alexandra, Hannikaisenkatu 35, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland

Media accreditation opening hours

Tuesday 30 July: 14:00 – 20:00

Wednesday 31 July: 09:00 – 22:00

Thursday 1 August: 08:00 – 20:00

Friday 2 August: 07:00 – 13:00

Media Centre location and opening hours

The Media Centre is situated as follows: Jyväskylä Paviljonki, Messukatu 10, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland and open as follows:

Tuesday 30 July: 14:00 – 18:00

Wednesday 31 July: 09:00 – 22:00

Thursday 1 August: 08:00 – 24:00

Friday 2 August: 07:00 – 24:00

Saturday 3 August: 07:00 – 23:00

Sunday 4 August: 07:00 – 22:00

Media actions and alternatives

(All instances native, approximate and topic to vary)

Media zones

Media Zones attended by all drivers and chosen staff representatives will function as follows: 

TC 1A, TC 5A, TC 10A, TC 13A, TC 16A and on the holding space after TC 20B

FIA WRC Meet the Crews dwell interviews, Paviljonki Service Park, Thursday 1 August

14:15 – FIA WRC Workforce Principals and Key Personnel

Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, Cyril Abiteboul (FRA)

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN) and Kaj Lindström

M-Sport Ford WRT, Richard Millener (GBR)

FIA Junior WRC, Maciej Woda (POL)

14:25 – FIA WRC Championship

Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, Esapekka Lappi (FIN), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) and Sami Pajari (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid

M-Sport Ford WRT, Grégoire Munster (LUX), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid

Michèle Mouton (FRA), FIA Security Delegate

14:35 – FIA WRC Help Championships

FIA WRC2 – Emil Lindholm (FIN), Hyundai i20 N Rally2

FIA WRC2/FIA WRC2 Challenger – Teemu Asunmaa (FIN), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2

FIA WRC3/Junior WRC – FIA Rally Star – Taylor Gill (AUS) and Leevi Lassila (FIN), Ford Fiesta Rally3

FIA Submit-event Press Convention, Remaining podium in Jyväskylä Harbour, Sunday 4 August, 15:00

Prime 3 drivers in general classification, successful co-driver & rep. of the successful producer

Profitable FIA WRC2, WRC2 Challenger, WRC Masters Cup, WRC3 and Junior WRC drivers

FIA WRC Meet the Crews dwell interviews and FIA Submit-event Press Convention broadcast on FIA and WRC social media channels.

SECTO RALLY FINLAND MANUFACTURER ENTRIES

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 CLASSIFICATION

The provisional classifications following spherical eight of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship can be found right here: https://www.fia.com/occasions/world-rally-championship/season-2024/standings

SECTO RALLY FINLAND 2023 RESULTS

RALLY FINAND RECENT WINNERS*

*Rally Finland 2020 was cancelled resulting from Covid-19