Imagine going up on a roller coaster, before hurtling down at over 100 km/h and back up again. This is what most of the rally drivers will feel at the wheel of their cars during the WRC Rally Finland 2024. The FIA World Rally Championship, the challenge of car endurance and human limits, heads to the epicenter of rallying, Finland. First held in 1951, the Finnish Rally, Gravel Grand Prix, 1000 Lakes Rally or Rally of the Thousand Lakes has an enormous historical heritage. Super-fast, mega-gravel, and a breathtaking event. So what does a newcomer need to know about this iconic event?

Let’s find out.

The Rally Finland is the fastest challenge in the FIA WRC

It is said that if you want to understand the world of rallying, you should first visit the Rally Finland. It is a magical place and an iconic event that brings together the best features of the sport’s discipline.

The Finland Rally has everything to make a worthy impression, from the tough route with many jumps and tricky corners to the spectacular areas with picturesque views. However, the first main feature for which the Finland Rally is famous is speed.

Despite the hybrid engine power that allows Rally1 cars to reach over 200 km/h, the participating Toyota GR Yaris, Hunday I20 N Rally1, and M-Sport Ford Puma rarely break 100 km/h. There is no need to because of the hard braking zones, stones, and puddles under the tires.

The Finnish surface is a different case. Despite the variety of gravel, the grip is perfect enough to allow maximum speed, so that the rally cars reach over 120 km/h.

Furthermore, most of the WRC speed records are set in Finland. In 2023, for example, Toyota Gazoo Racing Elfyn Evans not only won but also marked the event with an astonishing 125.6 km/h!

Furthermore, the organizers promise that the Rally Finland 2024 will be even faster.

That is very risky.

The Tire Strategy Comes First

Alongside the fascinating speeds, the Finish round has another feature that new fans need to know about. It is all about jumps. The road loops hard and comes through numerous jumps. Rally Finland 2024 is the only challenge in the WRC with jumps on each of the 20 stages.

Once the service takes place in the middle of the day, this will be the only chance to repair the car all day. In addition to the spare wheel, the right tire compound and the ability to save it during the stages are crucial points for each team and each driver.

However, as in Formula 1, the strategy to save tires in the WRC is even more difficult. For example, the surface of the Rally Finland 2024 is mainly gravel with many small stones. So, it is very possible to get a puncture, but to get it means to lose everything.

And here, in tire strategy, the weather is the decisive factor that will test the teams and drivers at the 2024 Rally Finland. The forecast promises a dry Friday, a wet Saturday, and a wet Sunday. It will be more difficult to avoid punctures as the surface becomes more compact when it rains, while the grip increases and so do the speeds.

The Closest FIA WRC Title Fight In Finish Round

Aside from the technical challenges of the Finnish Rally, the personal battle for the championship title adds to the excitement of the event. Every position in the WRC standings is filled with exciting drama.

The Toyota, Hyundai, and M-Sport teams are ready for Rally Finland 2024. If M-Sport, with 177 points, will start with the minimum program, Hyundai (351) and Toyota (350) will be forced to get the maximum because Hyundai is just one point ahead in the standings.

However, the Toyota team is not happy with the current situation. The team wants to change things significantly, especially here. Finland is the second home of Toyota. The team tests its Rally1 cars near Jyväskylä.

No less impressive is the battle between the top three drivers in the WRC. Two Hyundai drivers have all the chances to become world rally champions. Thierry Neuville (145) and Ott Tänak (137) are fighting for the coveted prize, while Toyota’s Elfyn Evans (132) won’t give it up without a fight.

As for the local favorites, Finnish rally fans love motorsport and cheer all the drivers, but Finn Kalle Rovanperä (86) and Estonian Ott Tänak are superstars. Although the youngest two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä has not won another title, a home victory is always special.

Rally Finland 2024 Itinerary

Jyväskylä traditionally becomes the epicenter of the event. With the team basing, it is the main scene for the weekend. Despite the opening ceremony on Wednesday, the main action starts on the following day.

All the drivers run Thursday’s shakedown in the morning and then go to the street stage in Jyväskylä. The rallying program for Friday is overloaded, drivers pass for 9 special stages with a pause for service in the middle, so mistakes are unforgivable. Saturday comes with 6 tests, including the legendary Ouninpohja covering 305.69km before Sunday afternoon’s finish.

Regarding the new WRC points system, to score rally drivers must finish on Saturday. However, to secure it, they need to end on Sunday too. If not, the points go to the next competitor.

Takeaways

• Although the 2024 WRC Rally Finland starts on Wednesday, the main action is scheduled for Thursday, while Friday will be the most demanding day of the weekend. Drivers will complete 9 special stages out of a total of 20.
• Gravel Grand Prix or Finnish Rally is famous for slippery corners, hard-breaking zones, breathtaking jumps, and the fascinating speed of the cars at the place. This is due to the maximum grip and most of the speed records have been set here in Finland.
• Tire strategy is crucial in the WRC, but it is in the finish where choosing the right compound and saving it means even more. With the only pit stop in the middle of the day, the drivers have no room for error, while the promised rain on Saturday and Sunday will add more questions to the race strategy.
• What is more in question is a worthy rally battle for the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championships. The difference in points between Hyundai and Toyota is only 1 point. Almost the same is true for the drivers, where three drivers have a chance to become world champions, while two of them are teammates for Hyundai.

For more detailed information, including the attendance and other press releases you can check the Rally Finland official website.