Finnish rallying fans have had a cruel two-year wait, but this week the gravel grand prix is back. The World Rally Championship touches down in Jyväskylä for one of the most famous events of them all: Rally Finland.
But it likely won’t be Finland as we know it. Coronavirus forced the event off the calendar last year on what should have been the 70th anniversary edition, and it’s had an impact this year too as the rally will take place two months later than normal in October.
How will this affect the nature of the stages? Will it upset the applecart? How spectacular will World Rally Cars look, spot-lights blazing a beam of light in between the trees as they fly? These are all questions that will be answered this week.
Here’s the key information you need to know for round 10 of the 2021 World Rally Championship season.
Leading entries
1 Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Toyota Yaris WRC)
33 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota Yaris WRC)
11 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)
69 Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota Yaris WRC)
8 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)
18 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota Yaris WRC)
42 Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)
44 Gus Greensmith/Chris Patterson (Ford Fiesta WRC)
16 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Fiesta WRC)
4 Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (Toyota Yaris WRC)
Rally Finland entry breakdown
Total 43 crews
10 Priority 1 crews
8 Priority 2 crews (WRC2)
14 Priority 3 crews (WRC3)
11 non-priority crews
Rally Finland itinerary
Friday October 1
Shakedown Vesala (2.51 miles) 0801
SS1 Harju (1.43 miles) 1338
SS2 Ässämäki 1 (7.65 miles) 1436
SS3 Sahloinen – Moksi 1 (13.28 miles) 1526
SS4 Ässämäki 2 (7.65 miles) 1708
SS5 Sahloinen – Moksi 2 (13.28 miles) 1758
SS6 Oittila (12.27 miles) 1900
Saturday October 2
SS7 Kakaristo – Hassi 1 (11.29 miles) 0816
SS8 Päijälä 1 (14.05 miles) 0914
SS9 Arvaja 1 (8.38 miles) 1038
SS10 Patajoki 1 (12.77 miles) 1128
SS11 Kakaristo – Hassi 2 (11.29 miles) 1516
SS12 Päijälä 2 (14.05 miles) 1614
SS13 Arvaja 2 (8.38 miles) 1738
SS14 Patajoki 2 (12.77 miles) 1828
SS15 Harju 2 (1.43 miles) 2000
Sunday October 3
SS16 Laukaa 1 (7.30 miles) 0835
SS17 Ruuhimäki 1 (6.90 miles) 0938
SS18 Laukaa 2 (7.30 miles) 1101
SS19 Ruuhimäki 2 (6.90 miles) 1318