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  Home > Rallies > Finland
Finland is about finns
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In the early years of the championship, Corsica was so specialized event that only french drivers were considered to have any chance of a success there. That magic has since dissipated but high-speed Rally Finland has seen only handfull of non-scandinavian winners over the years. Besides finns, swedes were only ones to score wins before Carlos Sainz made history in 1990 by winning both this famous event and a place in the hearts of finnish fans.

What exactly it is that makes this rally so difficult? There are three major factors which are in no particular order: numerous crests and yumps, high speeds and strong local entries. Besides Safari, Finland has been fastest rally of them all over the years. Roads are smooth, allowing very wide lines and super-fast top speeds.

But yumps are what make Finland famous. Over blind crest at high speed where cars frequently are in the air, being on correct line is absolutely vital as after take-off car is not under control. Rally Finland has been dubbed "Grand Prix on gravel roads" for apparent reasons. Hesitate once and you can say goodbye to any success, sprint nature of this rally means that a dozen competitors just went past you.

Last but not the least difficulty is what is known as the finnish "rally mafia". This small nation has produced more WRC winners and champions than any other, effectively meaning that for every foreign entrant there is one seasoned and skilled finn. On top of that, they know this event inside out.

Old rally plates
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Final version of the original rally plate, used until 1996.

Rally plate with oil company Neste as title sponsor, used 1997 - 2006.

Website
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Official rally website

Previous winners
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 1973:   Makinen, Timo   Ford Escort RS1600   105.57 km/h 
 1974:   Mikkola, Hannu   Ford Escort RS1600   107.51 km/h 
 1975:   Mikkola, Hannu   Toyota Corolla   99.80 km/h 
 1976:   Alen, Markku   Fiat 131 Abarth   102.60 km/h 
 1977:   Hamalainen, Kyosti   Ford Escort RS1800   102.12 km/h 
 1978:   Alen, Markku   Fiat 131 Abarth   105.06 km/h 
 1979:   Alen, Markku   Fiat 131 Abarth   105.73 km/h 
 1980:   Alen, Markku   Fiat 131 Abarth   106.97 km/h 
 1981:   Vatanen, Ari   Ford Escort RS1800   106.69 km/h 
 1982:   Mikkola, Hannu   Audi quattro   109.04 km/h 
 1983:   Mikkola, Hannu   Audi quattro A2   107.48 km/h 
 1984:   Vatanen, Ari   Peugeot 205 Turbo 16   110.27 km/h 
 1985:   Salonen, Timo   Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2   109.67 km/h 
 1986:   Salonen, Timo   Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2   107.69 km/h 
 1987:   Alen, Markku   Lancia Delta HF 4WD   95.97 km/h 
 1988:   Alen, Markku   Lancia Delta Integrale   108.10 km/h 
 1989:   Ericsson, Mikael   Mitsubishi Galant VR-4   108.03 km/h 
 1990:   Sainz, Carlos   Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)   112.69 km/h 
 1991:   Kankkunen, Juha   Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v   113.61 km/h 
 1992:   Auriol, Didier   Lancia Delta HF Integrale   115.45 km/h 
 1993:   Kankkunen, Juha   Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)   115.41 km/h 
 1994:   Makinen, Tommi   Ford Escort RS Cosworth   114.58 km/h 
 1996:   Makinen, Tommi   Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III   117.05 km/h 
 1997:   Makinen, Tommi   Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV   116.62 km/h 
 1998:   Makinen, Tommi   Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V   117.02 km/h 
 1999:   Kankkunen, Juha   Subaru Impreza WRC99   119.82 km/h 
 2000:   Gronholm, Marcus   Peugeot 206WRC (2000)   121.46 km/h 
 2001:   Gronholm, Marcus   Peugeot 206WRC (2001)   119.99 km/h 
 2002:   Gronholm, Marcus   Peugeot 206WRC (2002)   121.80 km/h 
 2003:   Martin, Markko   Ford Focus RS WRC 03   121.62 km/h 
 2004:   Gronholm, Marcus   Peugeot 307WRC   114.51 km/h 
 2005:   Gronholm, Marcus   Peugeot 307WRC Evo2   122.49 km/h 
 2006:   Gronholm, Marcus   Ford Focus RS WRC 06   122.06 km/h 
 2007:   Gronholm, Marcus   Ford Focus RS WRC 07   121.85 km/h 
 2008:   Loeb, Sebastien   Citroen C4 WRC   117.32 km/h 
 2009:   Hirvonen, Mikko   Ford Focus RS WRC 09   121.33 km/h 
 2010:   Latvala, Jari-Matti   Ford Focus RS WRC 09   122.80 km/h 
 2011:   Loeb, Sebastien   Citroen DS3 WRC   118.30 km/h 
 2012:   Loeb, Sebastien   Citroen DS3 WRC   122.89 km/h 
 2013:   Ogier, Sebastien   Volkswagen Polo R WRC   119.21 km/h 
 2014:   Latvala, Jari-Matti   Volkswagen Polo R WRC   122.09 km/h 
 2015:   Latvala, Jari-Matti   Volkswagen Polo R WRC   125.44 km/h 
 2016:   Meeke, Kris   Citroen DS3 WRC   126.62 km/h 
 2017:   Lappi, Esapekka   Toyota Yaris WRC   126.16 km/h 
 2018:   Tanak, Ott   Toyota Yaris WRC   122.57 km/h 
 2019:   Tanak, Ott   Toyota Yaris WRC   122.48 km/h 
 2021:   Evans, Elfyn   Toyota Yaris WRC   123.73 km/h 
 2022:   Tanak, Ott   Hyundai i20 N Rally1   125.32 km/h 
 2023:   Evans, Elfyn   Toyota GR Yaris Rally1   125.56 km/h 
Yumping is what it is all about
(Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window)
Rally is fast, yes, but yumping is what Rally Finland is all about. Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window
Sainz on the limit
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On the very fast roads drivers are constantly on the limit and at times a over the edge. Sainz with Corolla WRC in 1999 slightly too fast on junction. Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window
Wide lines
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In nail-biting fights every inch of the road and routinely even inches outside the road are used to improve times. Click picture to see larger version in a pop-up window
Driver wins
  Gronholm, Marcus (7)
  Alen, Markku (6)
  Makinen, Tommi (4)
  Mikkola, Hannu (4)
  Kankkunen, Juha (3)
  Latvala, Jari-Matti (3)
  Loeb, Sebastien (3)
  Tanak, Ott (3)
  Evans, Elfyn (2)
  Salonen, Timo (2)
  Vatanen, Ari (2)
  Auriol, Didier (1)
  Ericsson, Mikael (1)
  Hamalainen, Kyosti (1)
  Hirvonen, Mikko (1)
  Lappi, Esapekka (1)
  Makinen, Timo (1)
  Martin, Markko (1)
  Meeke, Kris (1)
  Ogier, Sebastien (1)
  Sainz, Carlos (1)
Manufacturer wins
  Ford (10)
  Peugeot (8)
  Toyota (8)
  Citroen (4)
  Fiat (4)
  Lancia (4)
  Mitsubishi (4)
  Volkswagen (3)
  Audi (2)
  Hyundai (1)
  Subaru (1)
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