View from the Service Park: Secto Rally Finland

Any of the more eagle-eyed fans standing close to Hyundai Motorsport and looking up would, first thing each morning, have caught sight of the superstars of our world taking in the view from up on high. The hotel in the centre of the Paviljonki is the place to stay, with an elevator – often shared with a world champion or two – which deposits you pretty much into the heart of the service park action.

As usual, Finland offered one of the season’s finest displays of historic rally cars, retro t-shirts and Jari-Matti Latvala’s own-brand coffee. Event sponsor Secto Automotive delivered rally-long entertainment alongside a stunning 1968 Porsche 911 and BMW M3.

Over the railway bridge and the heart of the city had embraced the event in the same way it has done for more than half a century of world championship action – except there were probably more shots on the gram last weekend than there was in 1973…

Finland’s hospitable focus doesn’t stop at the city limits, spectator areas in the stages were an absolute treat again. The first chair was put down at Kakaristo junction more than 72 hours before the first car even approached the Ouninpohja stage – the atmosphere on one of the most famous corners in one of the world’s most famous pieces of rally road was fantastic.

Typically, the loudest cheers and the longest klaxon blast were saved for cars flagged with the blue and white of home, but everybody was appreciated – especially those who held the tap open maybe a touch longer than they should have done.

Secto Rally Finland remains very much about speed and spectacle. Thankfully, some things never change.