WRC Secto Automotive Rally Finland

Smooth and blisteringly quick gravel roads, buried among forests and lakes, are characterised by massive stomach-churning jumps. The fastest rally in the championship and the one that every driver wants to win. Bravery and commitment are essential here more than anywhere else.

Challenge

• A mix of hard, wide roads with narrower more technical sections.
• Flat out from start to finish. It is affectionately known as the Finnish Grand Prix and nine of the 10 fastest WRC rallies have been here.
• Pace notes must be perfect. Blind crests often hide corners and it’s vital to position the car correctly before take-off to ensure maximum speed through the bend.
• Speeds are so high that time differences are small and there is little opportunity to regain vital seconds after a mistake.
• One of the hardest rallies for co-drivers as high speeds demand a constant, pinpoint accurate delivery of pace notes.
• Mastering the jumps. If the speed is too high, the car’s aerodynamics will force the back down and the front will rise. The tactic is to brake before take-off and accelerate full throttle over the jump.
• Adapting from a traditional summer rally to autumn, when the smooth roads could offer exceptional grip or wet weather could bring softer and rougher conditions.     

Car spec

• Gravel suspension.
• Pirelli’s soft compound Scorpion tyres will be the template choice, but hard compound rubber is also available.

Service park

• Based in central Jyväskylä’s Paviljonki exhibition centre. WRC teams will line up in the ‘main street’ near the harbour, with support category teams indoors. Paviljonki is just a few minutes walk from the city’s shops, bars and restaurants.

Event History

• Dates back to 1951 when it was launched as a means of deciding the Finnish entries for Rallye Monte-Carlo.
• It took on the name 1000 Lakes Rally and was included in the calendar for the WRC in its first year in 1973.
• It has been dominated by Finnish drivers who have won 55 of the 70 editions. Top of the roll of honour are Hannu Mikkola and Marcus Grönholm with seven wins.
• The 2016 edition was the fastest rally in WRC history. Kris Meeke won at an average speed of 126.62kph.