Secto Rally Finland
- Course: Start in Jyväskylä and finish in Himos-Jämsä, Finland
- Date: August 3-6, 2023
- Stages: 22
- Distance: 199.186 miles (320.56 kilometers)
- 2023 WINNER: Elfyn Evans
🏆 2023 Secto Rally Finland Odds
The WRC Rally Finland is the ninth event of the 2023 WRC calendar. WRC odds suggest that it is one of the most anticipated rallies of the year. It’s one of the oldest rallies on the schedule and pre-dates the formation of the World Rally Championship in 1973. 2023 Secto Rally Finland Odds favor the event due to its rich history and exciting challenges.
It’s one of eight pure gravel rallies on the 2023 schedule. Unlike other gravel rallies, the special stage roads are relatively smooth as they twist through forests and alongside lakes, adding to the intrigue of the WRC odds. It’s the fastest event of the year and is punctuated by many massive jumps, making it a favorite among both drivers and fans.
| Driver | Team | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota Gazoo Racing | -200 |
| Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +1900 |
| Elfyn Evans | Toyota Gazoo Racing | +2400 |
| Ott Tänak | M-Sport Ford | +350 |
| Esapekka Lappi | Hyundai | +550 |
| Teemu Suninen | Hyundai | +7400 |
🚥 What Is the Finland Rally Track?
The Finland Rally track, featured in the 2023 Secto Rally Finland Odds, is a legendary and iconic venue in the world of WRC races. Renowned for its high-speed and adrenaline-pumping stages, it is a favorite among drivers and fans alike. The track’s history dates back to before the formation of the World Rally Championship in 1973, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious events on the WRC calendar.
One of the striking features of the Finland Rally track is its unique gravel terrain. Unlike many other WRC races, the special stage roads here are relatively smooth, allowing drivers to push their cars to the limits as they navigate through dense forests and picturesque lakesides. This distinct characteristic sets it apart from other rallies and contributes to its allure.
As a part of the 2023 WRC standings, the Finland Rally holds significant importance in the championship race. Its fast and technical stages test the skill, precision, and courage of the drivers, making it a crucial event in determining the leaders in the WRC standings.
Another highlight of the Finland Rally is the multitude of massive jumps scattered throughout the stages. These high-flying moments add an extra layer of excitement to the competition, captivating fans worldwide.
Given its reputation as the fastest event of the year, the Finland Rally often leads to unpredictable outcomes, influencing the 2023 Secto Rally Finland Odds.
The Finland Rally track is a storied and challenging venue that has cemented its place in the hearts of fans and drivers alike. With its unique gravel terrain, breathtaking jumps, and high-speed stages, it remains an iconic event on the rally calendar. The excitement surrounding the 2023 Secto Rally Finland Odds and its impact on the WRC standings further solidify its status as a must-watch event for rally racing enthusiasts worldwide.
Rally Finland Schedule
WRC:
- 7:05 p.m. ET – Stage 1 Harju 1
WRC:
- 8:05 a.m. ET – Stage 2 Laukaa 1
- 9:03 a.m. ET – Stage 3 Lankamaa 1
- 10:21 a.m. ET – Stage 4 Myhinpää 1
- 11:35 a.m. ET – Stage 5 Halttula 1
- 2:32 p.m. ET – Stage 6 Laukaa 2
- 3:30 p.m. ET – Stage 7 Lankamaa 2
- 4:48 p.m. ET – Stage 8 Myhinpää 2
- 6:05 p.m. ET – Stage 9 Halttula 2
- 8:05 p.m. ET – Stage 10 Harju 2
WRC:
- 8:05 a.m. ET – Stage 11 Västilä 1
- 9:05 a.m. ET – Stage 12 Päijälä 1
- 10:02 a.m. ET – Stage 13 Rapsula 1
- 11:05 a.m. ET – Stage 14 Vekkula 1
- 3:35 p.m. ET – Stage 15 Västilä 2
- 4:35 p.m. ET – Stage 16 Päijälä 2
- 5:32 p.m. ET – Stage 17 Rapsula 2
- 6:35 p.m. ET – Stage 18 Vekkula 2
WRC:
- 7:53 a.m. ET – Stage 19 Moksi-Sahloinen 1
- 9:05 a.m. ET – Stage 20 Himos-Jämsä 1
- 10:30 a.m. ET – Stage 21 Moksi-Sahloinen 2
- 1:15 p.m. ET – Stage 22 Himos-Jämsä 2
| POSITION | DRIVER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elfyn Evans | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT |
| 2 | Neuville Thierry | Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT |
| 3 | Katsuta Takamoto | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT |
| 4 | Suninen Teemu | Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT |
| 5 | Latvala Jari-Matti | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT |
| 6 | Solberg Oliver | Toksport WRT 2 |
| 7 | Pajari Sami | Toksport WRT 2 |
| 8 | Fourmaux Adrien | M-Sport Ford WRT |
| 9 | Gryazin Nikolay | Toksport WRT 2 |
| 10 | Mikkelsen Andreas | Toksport WRT 3 |
🏁 Rally Finland History & Highlights
Rally Finland started out in 1951 as a qualifying event for the Monte Carlo Rally. Finnish drivers competed to earn one of the 14 spots for Finns and Swedes in the rally. Drivers wanted a Monte Carlo-esque rally in Finland. The first competition began in Jyväskylä in the western Finnish Lakeland area. Competitors drove 1,060 miles (1,700 kilometers), and Finn Arvo Karlsson won in an Austin Atlantic.
By 1953, the event expanded to 66 teams competing over 1,367 miles (2,200 kilometers). The next year saw the event nicknamed “The Rally of the Thousand Lakes” as drivers competed across 11 cities. In 1957, the rally became so popular that organizers had to develop sign language for marshals to use while communicating with drivers. Erik Carlsson became the first non-Finnish driver to win that year.
The next decade started with an 85-entrant 100 Lakes Rally in 1960. That rose to 104 drivers by 1962 and 115 by 1966. By this time, the rally was considered the best-organized competition outside of the Monte Carlo Rally. The 1960s saw the first generation of “Flying Finns” of rally driving. Finnish drivers won every event of the decade: Carl-Otto Bremer (1960), Rauno Aaltonen (1961), Pauli Toivonen (1962), Simo Lampinen (1963-64), Timo Mäkinen (1965-67), and Hannu Mikkola (1968-70).
By the 1970s, mileage for the event dropped to around 285 miles (460 kilometers). Foreign entrants began to decline, though, given the Finnish dominance in the event. Stig Blomqvist, 1984 WRC champion, was the first non-Finnish driver to win the event since 1959, with his victory in 1971. It’d be another 18 years before a non-Finnish driver won the event again.
The event made it to the inaugural 1973 World Rally Championship season and Mäkinen won for a fourth time, becoming the first Finn to win an official WRC event.
The 1980s saw multiple fatalities at Rally Finland. In 1981, Austrian driver Franz Wittman crashed after the finish line of the fourth stage and hit five officials. One died from injuries. In 1983, Pekka Mällinen crashed into a tree and the accident killed his co-driver Reijo Nygren. A year later, nine spectators were injured when British driver Julian Roderick lost control during a jump. Swede Mikael Ericsson won in 1989 to break the streak of Finnish dominance.
Two-time WRC champion Carlos Sainz of Spain won in 1990 to become the first driver outside of Sweden and Finland to win the event. French driver Didier Auriol repeated the feat in 1992. The decade saw multiple injuries once again. The 1995 event saw another spectator hit by a driver when the zero car bounced from a ditch onto the road and hit a 20-year-old spectator. She did not hear the car coming and later died from her injuries. A year later, Danish driver Karsten Richardt lost control over a bump and went into a crowd 200 feet away. Twenty-nine spectators were hospitalized. In 1997, the event was voted Rally of the Year.
The 2000s saw another decade of Finnish dominance. Two-time WRC champion Marcus Grönholm won seven times (2000-02, 2004-07). Estonian Markko Märtin won in 2003 and nine-time champion Sébastien Loeb of France won in 2008 to break up the streak. The event was voted Rally of the Year three times from 2002 to 2004.
Loeb became the first non-Finn to win the event multiple times with his victory in 2011. Finnish drivers have been less dominant in the 2010s and 2020s, with Finns winning just four out of 12 events. The event was canceled for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grönholm and Mikkola are tied for the most event wins with seven, but three of Mikkola’s wins were before it was a WRC event.
Circuit Information
The WRC Rally Finland is a 22-stage rally held over four days and based in the city of Jyväskylä in southern Finland. Rally Finland’s known for its fast gravel and multiple massive jumps.
Eight of the nine fastest WRC rallies on record were Rally Finland events. Märtin set the WRC record for the longest jump by going 187 feet in the air at 106 mph.
