Finland – SS1: Neuville ahead of Tänak for a Hyundai double

After Estonia, it’s time for Rally of Finland, on the lands of the championship leader, Kalle Rovanperä. This eighth round of the 2022 season of WRC, marked by its numerous jumps, returned to its usual summer date after a 2021 edition contested in the fall (in October). Before the lakes and bumpy paths in the middle of the Finnish forests, it was the streets of Harju which hosted the short first special of 3,50 kilometers. Earlier in the day, the Finns secured a double on home soil with Kalle Rovanperä ahead of Esapekka Lappi during the Shakedown.

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Nouveau venu dans la catégorie reine avec M-Sport, Jari Huttunen a longtemps tenu le meilleur temps de cette super spéciale du jeudi soir, avant d’être devancé par Takamoto Katsuta, malgré un problème d’hybride sur la Toyota du pilote nippon. Le temps du Japonais était tout de suite battu de plus d’une seconde par Ott Tänak (Hyundai). Les Sud-Coréennes étaient en forme avec le meilleur chrono de Thierry Neuville, despite the fact that the Belgian was not satisfied with his sensations behind the wheel. Even Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) had to admit defeat and settle for a place at the foot of the podium.

Debutant Huttunen finished as the best Ford driver in fifth place, ahead of Pierre-Louis Loubet (8th). Craig Breen (M-Sport) had a little scare at the start of the course and finished with the 11th fastest time, sandwiched between his teammates Adrien fourmaux (10th) and Gus Greensmith (12th).

After asphalt and the urban area, it's time for dirt this Friday for the fifth consecutive event on this surface.