Kankkunen eyeing
a top 10 in
Finland

Rally legend Juha Kankkunen is aiming for a top 10 finish when he makes a one-off comeback on Neste Oil Rally Finland this week.

The 51-year-old Finn made his World Rally Championship debut on his home round of the series in 1979. He went on to win the event three times, contesting it for the last time with Hyundai in 2002.

This week, to help mark the event’s sixtieth jubilee, Kankkunen will get behind the wheel of a Stobart M-Sport Ford team Ford Focus RS WRC alongside long-time co-driver Juha Repo.

“It is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a World Rally Car, especially after knowing they'll disappear from the series after this season,” said Kankkunen. “I haven't spent much time in the latest generation cars and I know there have been a lot of changes, but I don’t foresee any undue surprises.

“My target is a place in the top 10 and to battle with Kimi Räikkönen. Juha [Repo] last competed in this rally in 2003 where he finished eleventh so he also eager to finish inside the top ten,” he added.

The Stobart team will run a total of four cars in Finland. Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg will drive the team’s two points-nominated cars, while the Finnish crew of Mattias Therman and co-driver Janne Perälä return to drive a fourth Ford Focus RS WRC.