"The Rally of Finland will see the return of Gigi Galli and co-driver, Giovanni Bernacchini to the World Rally Championship in a Peugeot 307 WRC in Pirelli's bright red and yellow livery," read a statement from the Italian tyre manufacturer earlier this month. "After scoring an excellent second place in the Rally of Argentina last May, the Finnish rally is another event that offers the Italian crew all the conditions it needs to aim for another top result. This time, their 307 WRC will not be provided by Bozian Racing, as was the case in Corsica, Argentina and Sardinia, but another French team: Beuzelin Sport Auto [BSA]."
Other names worth pointing out, include Ireland's Mitsubishi UK works driver, Rory Galligan, who is competing in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship and Brit's Nigel Heath and Natalie Barratt.
Schedule:
The schedule is virtually identical to 2005 with just a few minor changes to several stages and the re-introduction of the Jukojarvi stage on Sunday, which was last used in 2004. The action begins on Thursday evening at the short super special stage at Killeri, on the edge of the host town of Jyvaskyla. The opening leg continues on Friday with eight more tests close to the town, including a repeat of Killeri. The second leg is regarded as the classic day of the world championship season. Based on wide, flowing roads close to Jamsa, it includes some of rallying's greatest stages. The highlight is two passes over the awesome Ouninpohja tests, a roller-coaster stretch of road full of blind crests and huge jumps and viewed as rallying's ultimate test of skill. Sunday's short final leg comprises two loops of two stages west of Jyvaskyla. Drivers face 21 stages comprising 351.61km in a route of 1524.34km.
Hot tip:
Marcus Gronholm is the favourite, given his record in Finland over the years and his experience of the event. He is likely to face stiff competition though from his own team-mate,
Mikko Hirvonen,
Petter Solberg and of course,
Sebastien Loeb.
Last year:
Marcus Gronholm won the event in 2005, his fifth win in six years on his home round. Sebastien Loeb had to settle for the runners-up spot, over 1 minute adrift, while
Markko Martin completed the podium with Petter Solberg and Mikko Hirvonen fourth and fifth respectively. There were only three notable retirements, namely
Gigi Galli,
Chris Atkinson and Jani Paasonen.
