Neste Oil Rally Finland, the eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship, continues to evolve its event, striving to provide sporting excellence and all-round family entertainment. This year it is once again a two and a half day rally with the action kicking off on Thursday afternoon with the opening six stages. Friday and Saturday are both long days but include some of the most legendary stages in the Championship.
The roller-coaster action over the fast flowing gravel roads is renowned the world over, the stomach-churning jumps providing some of the most visually spectacular images of the season. Such is the event’s popularity no fewer than 101 entries have been received, including the contenders fighting for the WRC, WRC 2, WRC 3 and Junior WRC Championships.
CHANGES TO THE ROUTE SINCE 2012
This year there are three completely new stages - SS2/4, SS10/14, and SS19/23 - the last of these also closing the event as the Power Stage. Four stages are the same as last year while all others have amendments or new sections of road.
RALLY FINLAND
— Round: 8/13
— Base and service park: Jyväskylä, Paviljonki
— Surface: Gravel
— Weather: Potentially variable as summer draws to a close, with temperatures in excess of 20°C if the sun shines. If it rains, however, the temperature may drop to a cool 10°C.
— Sunrise and sunset on the first day of the rally: 4.41am/10.05pm
— Local time: GMT+3
— Currency: Local currency is the Euro.
— Website: www.nesteoilrallyfinland.fi
— Technical information: Spare parts (gearbox, differentials, subframes, steering racks and turbochargers) are to be shared with the Australia and Wales GB rallies.
— Tyres: 24 Michelin Latitude Cross tyres to be chosen from 24 soft compound and 16 hard compound tyres.
— Reconnaissance: Monday, 29 July from 8am to 5pm and Tuesday, 30 July from 7.30am to 6pm.
— Free practice and qualifying stage: Wednesday, 31 July from 4pm on a 4.62km-long stage in Ruuhimäki (34.10km from the service park).
— Route: 23 special stages (12 different stages). 332.14km of timed sections. Total distance: 1,571.67km.
WEDNESDAY 31 JULY
4.00pm: Free practice
7.00pm: Qualifying stage (4.62km)
9.00pm: Selection of starting positions (Service Park)
9.30pm: FIA Pre-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)
THURSDAY 1 AUGUST
11.15am: Start
12.15pm: SS1 – Himos 1 (5.50km)
1.40pm: SS2 – Torittu 1 (8.40km)
3.18pm: SS3 – Koukunmaa (13.68km)
5.34pm: SS4 – Torittu 2 (8.40km)
7.00pm: SS5 – Himos 2 (5.50km)
8.30pm: SS6 – Killeri 1 (2.06km)
9.03pm: Service A (45 min)
FRIDAY 2 AUGUST
8.30am: Service B (15 min)
9.48am: SS7 – Jukojärvi 1 (22.50km)
10.56am: SS8 – Palsankylä 1 (13.92km)
11.41am: SS9 – Mökkiperä 1 (13.64km)
12.44pm: SS10 – Lankamaa 1 (25.70km)
2.03pm: Service C (30 min)
3.36pm: SS11 – Jukojärvi 2 (22.50km)
4.44pm: SS12 – Palsankylä 2 (13.92km)
5.29pm: SS13 – Mökkiperä 2 (13.64km)
6.32pm: SS14 – Lankamaa 2 (25.70km)
8.30pm: SS15 – Killeri 2 (2.06km)
9.03pm: Service D (45 min)
SATURDAY 3 AUGUST
7.30am: Service E (15 min)
8.26am: SS16 – Surkee 1 (14.95km)
9.24am: SS17 – Leustu 1 (9.90km)
10.32am: SS18 – Ouninpohja 1 (33.01km)
11.50am: SS19 – Painaa 1 (7.30km)
12.53pm: Service F (30 min)
2.04pm: SS20 – Surkee 2 (14.95km)
3.02pm: SS21 – Leustu 2 (9.90km)
4.10pm: SS22 – Ouninpohja 2 (33.01km)
6.11pm: ES23 – Painaa 2 – Power Stage (7.30km)
7.04pm: Service G (10 min)
8.00pm: Podium
10.00pm: FIA Post-Event Press Conference (Media Centre)