Finland, known for its blisteringly fast gravel roads and
stomach-churning jumps, is a jewel in the FIA World Rally
Championship’s crown. It formed one of the WRC’s founding fixtures in 1973 and
will take place from 1 – 4 August this year.
Event promoter AKK Sports has pulled out all the stops to
put a fresh stamp on its 2024 route, today unveiling an action-packed itinerary
comprising 20 special stages totalling 305 competitive kilometres.
WRC stars including Jari-Matti Latvala, Teemu Suninen, Janne
Ferm and Janni Hussi attended today’s launch, which confirmed that sixty-one
per cent of the route has been changed since last year, while a further 12 per
cent has not been used since before 1997.
Staying true to its roots, the city of Jyväskylä will again
form the event’s hub, hosting the start and finish ceremonies and service park
plus the legendary Harju Super Special stage which opens the rally on Thursday
as well as closing Friday’s action.
Friday is the longest day and accounts for more than 115km
of action. It boasts two passes of four stages in Laukaa, Saarikas, Myhinpää
and Ruuhiumäki. Each loop is split by a 40-minute service before a final blast
through Harju.
Although it has previously featured on national events, the
Saarikas stage has never been used in WRC. Several other of the tests, despite
their familiar names, also take on a different look for 2024.
Crews will venture further afield into the Jämsa region on
Saturday, where three stages, each traversed twice, lay in wait. Västilä and
Päijälä precede the iconic Ouninpohja – known for its famous Yellow House Jump
and sweeping corners. Ouninpohja will run in the gruelling 33km format last
seen in 2016, albeit in the opposite direction.
The final dash for points on Super Sunday will see
competitors tackle two stages in Sahloinen-Moksi and Laajavuori, the second
pass of which also doubles up as the bonus points-paying Wolf Power Stage.
After that, it’s on to the Jyväskylä Harbour for podium festivities and
champagne celebrations.
Clerk of the Course Kai Tarkiainen explained how this year’s
route had been formulated with Secto Rally Finland’s spectators very much in
mind.
“I do honestly believe that this is an exceptional ‘all-in’
route - one of the best-ever,” Tarkiainen said. “We’ve grouped the stages in
such a way that spectators can have a very easy and user-friendly experience,
while sampling the very best that Rally Finland can offer.
“Sustainability and community are extremely high up on our
agenda, so we have also considered this very carefully when planning our 2024
itinerary. The result is an event that benefits not only local communities but
the entire global family of rallying as a whole.”
Secto Rally Finland - 2024 Itinerary
Wednesday 31 July 2024
Start Ceremony - Jyväskylä Harbour 19:00
Thursday 1 August 2024
Shakedown, Ruuhimäki 10:01
SS1 Harju 1 (3.48km) 19:05
Service A Paviljonki (15 min, flexi) 19:40
Friday 2 August 2024
SS2 Laukaa 1 (18km) 8:13
SS3 Saarikas 1 (15.5km) 9:20
SS4 Myhinpää 1 (15.51km) 10:35
SS5 Ruuhimäki 1 (7.76km) 12:05
Service B Paviljonki (40 min) 13:27
SS6 Laukaa 2 (18km) 15:10
SS7 Saarikas 2 (15.5km) 16:17
SS8 Myhinpää 2 (15.51km) 17:32
SS9 Ruuhimäki 2 (7.76km) 19:05
SS 10 Harju 2 (2.01km) 20:05
Service C Paviljonki (45 min, flexi) 20:40
Saturday 3 August 2024
SS 11 Västilä 1 (18.94km) 9:05
SS 12 Päijälä 1 (20.19km) 10:05
SS 13 Ouninpohja 1 (33km) 11:05
Service D Paviljonki (40 min) 13:10
SS 14 Västilä 2 (18.94km) 15:35
SS 15 Päijälä 2 (20.19km) 16:35
SS 16 Ouninpohja 2 (33km) 17:35
Service E Paviljonki (45 min, flexi) 19:30
Sunday 4 August 2024
SS 17 Sahloinen-Moksi 1 (14.4km) 8:55
SS 18 Laajavuori 1 (4.19km) 10:05
SS 19 Sahloinen-Moksi 2 (14.4km) 11:17
SS 20 Laajavuori 2 (8.53km) 13:15
Finish - Paviljonki 15:00