Welcome Back Myhinpaa

Route details issued by the organisers of Neste Oil Rally Finland (30 July - 2 August) show important changes in the route of the current world championship's fastest event. None of the route of the Jyvaskyla based rally travels south of the town of Jamsa, which means that one of the rally's most famous stage venues Ouninpohja is no longer in the route. The event however travels further eastwards than in recent years, re-introducing another traditional 1000 Lakes stage, Myhinpaa. This was also another very fast stage, which features a special jump. In the case of Myhinpaa the famous jump is in the middle of a very fast downhill curve, which often throws cars sideways into the air. This year most of the stages will be used twice (the Myhinpaa stage will be used twice in succession) thus helping to reduce spectator traffic during the rally, and maximising spectator value. Myhinpaa has not featured in the route of this rally since the early ‘90's.

Finland is easily the fastest world championship rally these days. The record average speed over all the stages on this event was 122.62kph in 2004 when Marcus Gronholm drove a Peugeot 307WRC to victory, but the fastest world rally ever held was in Argentina 1983 when Hannu Mikkola took a Audi Quattro to victory at 123,5kph.


News from the Weekend

Subaru Impreza World Rally Cars took the top three places on the Sunseeker Rally the opening round of the British federation's clubmans ANCRO gravel championship. Winner was Will Nicholls from the Isle of Wight ahead of Roger Duckworth and Irish driver Sean Devine. Pre event favourite was Marcus Dodd in a Hyundai Accent WRC who retired with engine failure after leading, while two strong challengers in Ford Focus WRC cars both retired: Paul Bird with an electrical fault also after leading and Steve Perez who slid off the road. The rally is the most important event held in South England, and was based as usual at Bournemouth

American driver Ken Block (2008 version Subaru) won the 100 Acre Wood Rally, second round in the Rally America series, run in Missouri, USA, finishing ahead of four Mitsubishis headed by Canadian Andrew Comrie-Picard. Subarus took all ten places in the Super Production category. This was led until the snowy final stage by Dave Mirra, with former world champion codriver Derek Ringer, who eventually finished second in the category, beaten by 3.0 seconds.

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