The Arctic Rally Finland makes its World Rally Championship début this weekend and is set to be a thriller, with narrow blasts between snowbanks and constant changing of rhythm sure to catch some crews out.
Friday’s action involves two passes at one solitary test – but it’s the longest of the entire rally. Here’s David Evans’ guide to the Sarriojärvi stage that kicks off the WRC’s first visit to the Arctic Circle.
SS1/2 – Sarriojärvi (19.29 miles)
Photo: DirtFish Media
One of the most challenging but entertaining stages I’ve driven in a lot of years. Off the line the road is straight into a myriad of slow to medium-speed corners complicated by ever-changing topography.
There are crests on corners, compressions into heavy braking sections, tricky cambers pulling the car into the snowbanks on the outside. The first six miles will be one heck of a welcome to the WRC’s most northern event ever.
Heading downhill into a square left, there’s a complete change. Suddenly, the co-drivers will be able to catch their breath when they arrive on a double-width road for a near mile-long straight.
The only interruption is a super-fast right-hander. Is it flat, Sébastien Ogier? “No way.” Not even in the team DirtFish people carrier? “No, you don’t have the right aero!”
Photo: DirtFish Media
Off the big road, the next section is more flowing and not quite as quick (apart from one awesome downhill section between the trees) before it goes nadgery and very “uppy and downy”, according to Colin Clark.
There’s a bit of gravel coming through in places, but an absolute ripper of a stage to start with.
