Rally Finland

[Jari]

Without doubt my favourite rally of the year.

Can not wait for this one.

[Eno the Wonderdog]

Is that the old Thousand Lakes?

[Everso Biggyballies]

Yes, the 1000 Lakes Rally became the Rally Finland. Also known as the 'Jyvaskyla Grand Prix'.

Some trivia for you..... Rally Finland is the scene of Finlands largest fireworks display... this year planned for the Saturday night.



This year is also the 60th anniversary of the great rally.

....and Hirvonen's 30th Birthday on the final day.

Sadly, although Rally Finland is the fastest rally in the WRC, it is also going to be the shortest ever WRC round, with just 310.05km of racing amid the forests and lakes of the country's heartland. And it is all on in only two days.

Talking of fastest rally,it has featured seven times in the top 10 fastest rallies ever held in the history of the World Rally Championship. The quickest Rally Finland took place in 2005, with an average speed of 122.86 kph recorded on the event

Other things of note.... Ogier is officially Loeb's team mate in the senior team, (as has been confirmed will be the senior team for 2011). Sordo is Kimi's teamate in the juniors for the next few rallies.

[Everso Biggyballies]

I actually forgot to mention and remind you all that returning hero and multi WRC Champion Juha Kankkunen is back in the ranks for this weekend, driving a Stobart Ford.

The opening day SuperSpecial has now been run, with Petter Solberg taking the top honours from Mikka Hirvonen and Seb Loeb.

SS1 Times

Pos Driver Car Time/Gap
1. Petter Solberg Citroen 2m33.2s
2. Mikko Hirvonen Ford + 1.0s
3. Sebastien Loeb Citroen + 1.6s
4. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford + 1.6s
5. Sebastien Ogier Citroen + 3.2s
6. Henning Solberg Ford + 3.2s
7. Dani Sordo Citroen + 3.8s
8. Matthew Wilson Ford + 5.4s
9. Mads Ostberg Subaru + 5.4s
10. Kimi Raikkonen Citroen + 6.4s

13. Juha Kankkunen Stobart Ford + 9.6s

[Eno the Wonderdog]

Hooley Dooley.. Hirvonnen was a lucky boy..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5T9GxmS ... e=youtu.be

[Oldtony]

If ever I need a roll cage I think it will be built tp WRC specs.
By the way I like the way the WRC cars carry a pin om OK sign to tell following drivers that the crew is out and OK.
The new WRC site looks good but is a bit of a nightmare to find live timing.

[Everso Biggyballies]

FARK! Bloody 'Ell as they say.

That was a biggy for sure. For sure Hirvonen will remember the weekend of his 30th Birthday. Sadly as one of another wasted opportunity. Ford's (and Finland's) opportunity to win now lies with Latvala.

Top 10 after day 1 (remember it is only 2 days this one) is as follows:

Pos Driver Car Time/Gap
1. Jari-Matti Latvala Ford 1h10m30.7s
2. Petter Solberg Citroen + 9.1s
3. Sebastien Ogier Citroen + 21.8s
4. Sebastien Loeb Citroen + 32.0s
5. Dani Sordo Citroen + 43.7s
6. Matthew Wilson Ford + 2m35.3s
7. Juha Kankkunen Ford + 3m10.7s
8. Kimi Raikkonen Citroen + 3m18.2s
9. Juha Hanninen Skoda + 3m44.3s
10. Matti Rantanen Skoda + 4m25.4s

Kimi and Juha close together and both in the points positions. Interesting to see that Juha has but one objective for the weekend..... to beat / battle with Kimi Raikkonen being what he has set out to achieve this weekend.

Good show from Ogier, leading new team mate Loeb.