“The Rally Finland is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year. It enthrals fans and drivers alike, because it has everything that rallying is about,” said ŠKODA Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek. Its high average speed of well over 100 kilometres per hour and large sections driven at full throttle mean that the Rally Finland is also dubbed “Formula 1 in the forest”. Ideal terrain for the new ŠKODA Fabia R5 and the two works drivers Lappi and Tidemand, who brought home an acclaimed one-two victory at the Rally Poland, which is also extremely fast.
“This victory confirmed that we are on the right track with our new ŠKODA Fabia R5. But the success is no reason for us to rest on our laurels. Naturally we want to be up there fighting for podium spots again at the Rally Finland,” said Hrabánek. European Champions Lappi/Ferm are particularly motivated, after all the Rally Finland is an emotional home event for them. Many Finnish rally drivers became national heroes on legendary stages such as ‘Mökkiperä’ and ‘Myhinpää’.
After a year off, the legendary ‘Ouninpohja’ stage is back on the rally schedule this year; some of the drivers jump further than 50 metres in their cars on this stage. “Plenty of full throttle and long jumps: I love this rally in my home country,” said Lappi. “You need a lot of courage at the Rally Finland and can’t afford to make even a minor error. We are really looking forward to our home rally and want to delight the fans,” he said, with his sights set on another win: “Naturally we will try to bring home the next victory. The last rally in Poland demonstrated that the Fabia R5 has all the important qualities of a winning car.”
Pontus Tidemand is also a fan of the fast gravel tracks through the Finnish forests and past the proverbial 1000 lakes. “I drove onto the podium here as a junior, the high-speed passages and jumps are just magnificent. There probably won’t be much of a gap between the drivers. That means you need to find just the right mix of calculated risk and clever driving,” said ŠKODA’s second Scandinavian driver.
Both Lappi and Tidemand could continue to make up ground in the WRC overall standings with another top result at the Rally Finland. Although the two ŠKODA drivers have only contested three of the seven events of the season so far, they are already in fifth and sixth place. The new Fabia R5’s success rate is also impressive: In the WRC 2 classification of the FIA WRC, ŠKODA has already bagged five podium positions, including one win, in three starts.
In the Czech Rally Championship (MČR), Jan Kopecký (CZ) and co-driver Pavel Dresler (CZ) have celebrated four wins in four races with the new car so far. The most recent chapter in the success story: An acclaimed home victory at the 42nd Rally Bohemia in the region around ŠKODA headquarters in Mladá Boleslav.
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC 2)
Event / Date
Rally Monte Carlo; 22.01.–25.01.2015
Rally Sweden; 12.02.–15.02.2015
Rally Mexiko; 05.03.–08.03.2015
Rally Argentina; 23.04.–26.04.2015
Rally Portugal; 21.05.–24.05.2015
Rally Italia; 11.06.–14.06.2015
Rally Poland; 02.07.–05.07.2015
Rally Finland; 30.07.–02.08.2015
Rally Deutschland; 20.08.–23.08.2015
Rally Australia; 10.09.–13.09.2015
Rally France; 01.10.–04.10.2015
Rally Spain; 22.10.–25.10.2015
Rally Great Britain; 12.11.–15.11.2015
Did you know that …
… Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm are real Rally Finland experts? On their debut start in 2011, they finished in 32nd place in the overall standings. This year will be the fourth time that the successful duo contests their home rally. It is also a mini anniversary: Lappi/Ferm are competing in their 10th event in the FIA World Rally Championship.
… Pontus Tidemand also has experience of the Rally Finland? He contested the rally as part of the WRC Academy and the FIA Junior World Rally Championship in 2012 and 2013, and finished on the podium twice. Tidemand won the Junior World Champion title in 2013.
… the two ŠKODA works drivers Esapekka Lappi and Pontus Tidemand are on the advance in the WRC 2 overall standings, even though they have each completed only three of the seven rallies of the season so far? Lappi catapulted his way into fifth place with 45 points after his win in Poland. Tidemand is right behind him with 43 points. Finland’s Jari Ketomaa is in the lead with 67 points. Including Finland, there are six WRC rallies to go this year, with 25 points up for grabs for each win.
… the Rally Finland was held for the first time back in 1951? At that time it was the Finnish drivers’ qualifier for the legendary Rally Monte Carlo.
… the Rally Finland was part of the World Rally Championship for the first time in 1973? Back then it was known as the Rally of 1000 Lakes, the name was changed in 1994 at the main sponsor’s request.
… the majority of the route is the same as last year? Thursday’s opening stage, the 2.27-kilometre ‘Harju’ through the streets of Jyväskylä is new.
… the legendary ‘Ouninpohja’ stage celebrates its return this year after a year off? Its spectacular leaps make it the ultimate test of courage in the rally world. The record for the furthest jump was set by Estonia’s Markko Märtin back in 2003: He flew 57 metres in his rally car!
… Friday is the most challenging day at the Rally Finland? A total of 157.63 kilometres are scheduled, including two passes of the 34.39-kilometre ‘Ouninpohja’ stage. It is the longest stage of the whole rally. The cars must get through the entire day without a service.
… the university city of Jyväskyla is the centre of the rally? Thousands of fans flock to the Paviljonki service park each year. Matti Nykänen is probably the most famous person to come from the city, he is one of the most successful ski jumpers of all time.
150728 Formula 1 in the forest – ŠKODA Fabia R5 to contest the fastest rally of the year
