What changes for the Rally Finland?

For the first time since 1951, Rally Finland will take place in October. During the 69 previous editions, the event has never occurred at any other time than during the summer and this will not be without consequences. Temperatures are significantly cooler this season in Jyväskylä. Even if a few locals still swim in Lake Paijänne around which the city is located, there are not many brave people who dive into water at 7 C°. The crews should not suffer from the heat like in 2018 when the summer season was stifling for the region. Wet areas are expected to take longer to dry and rain may well be on the cards over the weekend.

If in July/August the days are endless with a semblance of darkness around 2 or 3 o'clock, the drivers will have to face stages with night specials. Oittila, the 6 km SS19,75 which will close on Friday, will start at 19:00 p.m., that is to say in the dark. Traveling at 180 km/h between the trees following the tunnel traced by the headlight ramp will be a spectacle not to be missed. It will happen again on Saturday with SS14 of Patajoki and SS15 of Harju in town. Despite the hardness of the ground, sweeping usually occurs on this event and the first drivers are wondering if the change of date will have an impact on this phenomenon. This will certainly offer beautiful and new images of this region with the colors of autumn while winter is not far away, as evidenced by the bonnets in the street or the imposing piles of wood in front of the houses in the countryside. If the move in October could appear anecdotal, the presence of the pandemic will have real consequences.   

Will the public be there?

Since the sleeves of WRC are run under the dictates of Covid-19, each is impacted in a different way. Canceled last year, the rally of Finland 2021 will not be an edition like any other. Although the health authorities have given the organizers the right to welcome spectators in the special stages, the service park will not, however, be open to the public. During the season, it is usually one of the places where we see the most people, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to walk there! This will not be the case this year, because the three main teams are surrounded by barriers while the others are relegated inside the different halls and will therefore be completely invisible to the fans. Usually a party place with activities for children, merchandising stands, concerts and demonstrations of vintage cars, the Paviljonki, a huge exhibition complex, will ring hollow. In the special stages, there will be numerous areas to accommodate speed lovers, but will they be there? The round is not run during the holidays, foreigners will probably not be able to make the trip. On the other hand, it is assured that all the Finns present on the side of the roads will support Kalle Rovanperä who everyone sees as the winner.