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WRC - 2015 Rally Finland Preview

27.07.15
The eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to Finland, home to some of the most famously fast and breath-taking stages in the series.

Classic smooth gravel roads run among the picturesque forests and lakes based around the university town of Jyväskylä, but it is the legendary jumps, many over blind crests, that gives the ‘Finnish Grand Prix’ an awesome reputation.  

In the past the Finns have held the home advantage, winning 52 of the 64 editions of Rally Finland. However the roll of honour for the last four years includes Frenchmen Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier who took victories between 2011 and 2013. The event is nevertheless considered to be one of the toughest for a non-local to conquer, Jari-Matti Latvala proving again last year that the Finns are hard to beat on home soil.

Three stages will be broadcast live; SS1 on Thursday evening, SS10 on Friday and the all-important Power Stage on Sunday (SS20).

RALLY FINLAND - ROUTE GRAPHICS

WRC 2015 Rally Finland stage map

THE 2015 ROUTE

While three of the 10 stages remain identical to those run in 2014, the route has otherwise only undergone minor amendments. Thursday will now only include a short blast around the Harju street stage in Jyväskylä, while Friday makes up nearly half the competitive distance of the rally, all without service. The legendary Ouninpohja stage, at its full 34.39 kilometre distance, is also back. Saturday includes classic tests and on Sunday crews face two runs through the demanding Myhinpää stage, new this year.

RALLY DATA

Total distance:
Stage distance:
Number of stages:

1,260.60 km
320.00 km (25.4%)
20

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Centre is located in the Sokos Hotel Alexandra, Hannikaisenkatu 35, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland. The opening hours are:

Tuesday 28 July
Wednesday 29 July
Thursday 30 July

14:00 – 18:00 hrs 
09:00 – 22:00 hrs
07:00 – 19:00 hrs

RALLY FINLAND TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

Wednesday 29 July
Mandatory rally by rally photographers briefing,
photographers' room
WRC drivers 'Meet the Kids', Service Park
WRC drivers 'Meet the Kids' photo-shoot, Service Park

Thursday 30 July
Shakedown (P1 and P2 drivers)
Shakedown (P1, P2 and P3 drivers)
Shakedown (Non-Priority drivers)
'Meet the Crews', WRC Stage, Service Park
FIA Press Conference, Press Room
Champions' Park tree planting event, Lutakko
Start of the Rally, Service Park

Friday 31 July
Regroup and tyre fitting zone, Himos
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Paviljonki
‘Meet the Crews’, WRC Stage, Service Park

Saturday 1 August
First car arrives for regroup, mid-day service and
Media Zone, Paviljonki
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Paviljonki
'Meet the Crews', WRC Stage, Service Park

Sunday 2 August
First car arrives for final service and Media Zone, Paviljonki
Prize-Giving and podium ceremony, Service Park
FIA Press Conference, Press Room


17:00 hrs

18:00 hrs
19:00 hrs


08:00-09:30 hrs
09:30-11:30 hrs
11:30-13:00 hrs
12:00 hrs
13:00 hrs
16:00 hrs
18:42 hrs


12:52 hrs
19:20 hrs
During the 45' service


13:01 hrs

19:30 hrs
During the 45' service


15:08 hrs
16:00 hrs
16:45 hrs 

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

Thursday 30 July









Sunday 2 August

Jari Huttunen, FIA Junior WRC Championship
Simone Tempestini, FIA Junior WRC Championship
Teemu Suninen, FIA WRC 3 Championship
Eric Camilli, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Jarkko Nikara, FIA WRC 2 Championship
Kris Meeke, Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team
Hayden Paddon, Hyundai Motorsport N
Ott Tanak, M-Sport World Rally Team
Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Motorsport 

Winning FIA Junior WRC Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 3 Championship crew
Winning FIA WRC 2 Championship crew
Top three crews in the overall classification
Representative of the winning entrant

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place on the WRC Stage at the earliest opportunity during the 45’ service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2015/standings

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2015/stage-chart-6