The FIA World Rally Championship moves to Finland this weekend and the event, formerly known as 'The Rally of the Thousand Lakes', is regarded as one of the classics on the WRC calendar.

Round ten in the series, features smooth gravel stages that pass through stunning forest scenery and around the lakes that gave the rally its original name.

With awe-inspiring stages and a record of producing some of the best drivers in the WRC, Finland is regarded as the spiritual home of rallying and it is estimated that a fifth of the entire population will turn out to watch their round of the championship.

A super special at the Killeri horse-trotting track opens the rally on Thursday August 17, with the first of 19 more 'proper' stages following on Friday morning. The rally comprises 351.61 competitive kilometres and is due to finish at 1454hrs on Sunday in the host town of Jyvaskyla.


Special notes:

Often referred to as the 'Finnish Grand Prix', Rally Finland is unquestionably the fastest of the season. Smooth, wide, undulating gravel stages enable drivers to reach breath-taking speeds of more than 200kph, while the numerous 'yumps', the famous Finnish jumps that feature throughout the route, demand the ultimate in confidence and precision driving.

Technically, the event is a difficult one. Jumps can launch a car 50 metres through the air and lead directly into blind crests and sixth gear corners. With average speeds of around 120kph, the event demands unwavering commitment and bravery.

Event pairing adds another dimension to the challenge for 2006. Most cars were due to arrive in Finland on Tuesday morning from Germany and all the teams will face a race against the clock to transform them from asphalt to gravel specification.


FIA World Rally Championship news:

Sebastien Loeb extended his lead at the top of the 2006 FIA World Rally drivers' championship following his fifth successive win in Germany - and his sixth of the season. The Kronos Citroen driver now enjoys a 33-point cushion over Gronholm - up by 4 points, the Finn having had to settle for the final place on the podium. Daniel Sordo remains third but inches closer to Gronholm following his fourth podium finish of the year. Manfred Stohl moves up to fourth, with Mikko Hirvonen and Petter Solberg fifth and sixth.

In the Manufacturers' series, Kronos Citroen's 1-2 finish in Germany increases their lead over BP Ford from 15 points to 23. Red Bull Skoda meanwhile took their best points' haul of the season last Sunday and move up a place to fifth, 2 points ahead of Stobart VK.