Junior WRC
Carlberg and Türkkan bring two-point Junior WRC duel to Finland
Just two points separate Calle Carlberg and Ali Türkkan as the FIA Junior WRC title battle resumes on Secto Rally Finland’s flat-out gravel roads this week.
The championship’s penultimate round brings six identical M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evos to Jyväskylä, where 20 stages and 316.6 competitive kilometres await from Thursday to Sunday.
More than half of this year’s route is new compared with 2025, while several familiar tests will be driven in the opposite direction. It is a demanding proposition for the Junior WRC crews, with blind crests, huge jumps and sustained high speeds leaving little room for hesitation.
Carlberg and co-driver Jørgen Eriksen lead the standings on 76 points, but Türkkan is only two behind following a dramatic opening three rounds. Gil Membrado holds third on 44 points, three ahead of Finnish contender Leevi Lassila.
Every stage victory carries an additional championship point, a system which has rewarded Carlberg’s raw speed throughout the campaign. Drivers count their best four results from the five-round season, which concludes with a double-points finale at Rally Chile Bio Bío in September.
Carlberg made a spectacular start to his first Junior WRC campaign by dominating his home Rally Sweden. The reigning Junior ERC champion won 12 stages and finished almost two minutes clear of Lassila, immediately establishing himself as the driver to beat.
Türkkan responded on Croatia Rally, capitalising when a puncture delayed Carlberg before resisting the Swede’s final-day attack to claim victory. Portugal appeared set to swing the momentum back towards Carlberg when he carried a 39.6sec lead into Sunday, but an accident on the penultimate stage handed Türkkan a second successive win and reduced the championship gap to only two points.
“I’m looking forward to Finland and I’m really hungry for revenge,” Carlberg admitted. “Portugal was almost the perfect rally for us but, in the end, it was the worst one – hopefully for this year!
“I’m trying to be as prepared as possible and we are actually doing a test this time. I’ve changed my focus from competing in a range of rallies in ERC and the Swedish championship to fully focusing on Junior WRC, so I’m feeling ready.
“I’ve driven once before in Finland, on a test, and the roads really fit my driving style. I’m going there to fight and give Ali a good battle for the title!”
Türkkan has considerably more experience of the Finnish roads. This will be his fourth Secto Rally Finland appearance, with two podium finishes already to his name, but his preparations have been complicated by a change of co-driver.
Oytun Albayrak was injured when the pair suffered a heavy landing over a jump while competing in WRC2 at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. Bilge Ayan will therefore step into the Fiesta Rally3 for Finland.
“I have very good feelings,” Türkkan said. “Finland is very special and it’s amazing to be driving there every year. We have a lot of new and reversed stages, so it will be more difficult than last year for sure.
“This will be my fourth Rally Finland. I have one DNF and two podiums, and this year I’m craving the win! I’m hoping to get used to the new stages and new co-driver as soon as possible. It’s going to be difficult in those terms, but Rally Finland is always so special and enjoyable.”
Membrado remains the closest challenger to the leading pair after scoring consistently across all three rounds. Finland represents a new type of challenge, however, with Membrado admitting that the abundance of crests and jumps will require an adjustment in technique.
“It has been a long time without races, but we’re more than ready to start this new challenge on Finland’s typical fast roads,” he said.
“I’m not used to driving on this type of road, with plenty of jumps and crests. We’re ready to fly through the Finnish forests!”
Lassila is the field’s sole home driver and has already demonstrated his ability on fast surfaces. He finished second to Carlberg in Sweden and returned to the podium in Portugal after his Croatia outing ended prematurely.
“It’s my home rally, so it is a special one,” Lassila said. “This is Rally Finland for me! I really like the fast roads in Finland, so I’m really looking forward to it. This is also a very important event for the championship.”
Craig Rahill also arrives with plenty of recent competition behind him and earned his maiden Junior WRC podium in Croatia.
“I’m really looking forward to Rally Finland,” Rahill enthused. “It has always been a dream of mine. I’ve always wanted to go out and watch it but never got the chance, so to now be going there to compete is unreal.
“I feel so lucky to have the chance to compete at such an iconic event. We have been busy in the ERC since Portugal, so there has been plenty of rallying!”
The entry is completed by Kerem Kazaz, who is targeting a clean result after showing flashes of pace without yet converting them into a major Junior WRC points haul this season.
“Rally Finland is one of the best rallies in the world and definitely one of my favourites,” Kazaz said. “We’ll prepare in the best way possible and make the most of every moment while enjoying this incredible event together as Team Petrol Ofisi.”
Secto Rally Finland begins with Thursday evening’s Harju super special before Friday’s full-speed forest stages launch the Junior WRC contest in earnest.
Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager, said: “Finland is one of the ultimate tests for a young driver, and with the championship so closely fought, this will be a crucial weekend. Every stage point will matter, so we expect a fast, committed and exciting battle from all six crews.”
