Neste Oil Rally
Finland

Formerly known as the 1000 Lakes, Neste Rally Finland is one of the most popular events on the WRC calendar.

It's a fast gravel affair, with high-speed runs along tree-lined tracks, peppered with fast, flying 'yumps' that demand absolute, balls-out commitment.

Rally Finland is based in the bustling student town of Jyvaskyla, located in the lake district area in the centre of the country. To win here, you need a savvy combination of tactical nous, smooth and efficient technique and flat-out commitment to cope with the high speeds, fast kinks and mammoth jumps that litter the smooth, loose-surface stages.

Over the years, the event has been dominated by the Scandinavians. They're used to driving on roads like these since they were knee-high to a grasshopper. That local experience counts.

New for 2009

Finnish revenge. The Scandinavians might have dominated the event in the past, but in 2008 Sebastien Loeb flew a French flag over the top step of the podium. In a country where rallying is taken VERY seriously you can bet the Finns will be out to reclaim their event in 2009.