Finland to provide ultimate WRC challenge with new-look route in 2024

Finland, known for its blisteringly fast gravel roads and stomach-churning jumps, is a jewel in the FIA World Rally Championship’s crown. It formed one of the WRC’s founding fixtures in 1973 and will take place from 1 – 4 August this year.

Event promoter AKK Sports has pulled out all the stops to put a fresh stamp on its 2024 route, today unveiling an action-packed itinerary comprising 20 special stages totalling 305 competitive kilometres.

WRC stars including Jari-Matti Latvala, Teemu Suninen, Janne Ferm and Janni Hussi attended today’s launch, which confirmed that sixty-one per cent of the route has been changed since last year, while a further 12 per cent has not been used since before 1997.

Staying true to its roots, the city of Jyväskylä will again form the event’s hub, hosting the start and finish ceremonies and service park plus the legendary Harju Super Special stage which opens the rally on Thursday as well as closing Friday’s action.

Friday is the longest day and accounts for more than 115km of action. It boasts two passes of four stages in Laukaa, Saarikas, Myhinpää and Ruuhiumäki. Each loop is split by a 40-minute service before a final blast through Harju.

Although it has previously featured on national events, the Saarikas stage has never been used in WRC. Several other of the tests, despite their familiar names, also take on a different look for 2024.

Crews will venture further afield into the Jämsa region on Saturday, where three stages, each traversed twice, lay in wait. Västilä and Päijälä precede the iconic Ouninpohja – known for its famous Yellow House Jump and sweeping corners. Ouninpohja will run in the gruelling 33km format last seen in 2016, albeit in the opposite direction.

The final dash for points on Super Sunday will see competitors tackle two stages in Sahloinen-Moksi and Laajavuori, the second pass of which also doubles up as the bonus points-paying Wolf Power Stage. After that, it’s on to the Jyväskylä Harbour for podium festivities and champagne celebrations.

Clerk of the Course Kai Tarkiainen explained how this year’s route had been formulated with Secto Rally Finland’s spectators very much in mind.

“I do honestly believe that this is an exceptional ‘all-in’ route - one of the best-ever,” Tarkiainen said. “We’ve grouped the stages in such a way that spectators can have a very easy and user-friendly experience, while sampling the very best that Rally Finland can offer.

“Sustainability and community are extremely high up on our agenda, so we have also considered this very carefully when planning our 2024 itinerary. The result is an event that benefits not only local communities but the entire global family of rallying as a whole.”

Secto Rally Finland - 2024 Itinerary  

Wednesday 31 July 2024
Start Ceremony - Jyväskylä Harbour 19:00

 
Thursday 1 August 2024
Shakedown, Ruuhimäki 10:01
SS1 Harju 1 (3.48km) 19:05
Service A Paviljonki (15 min, flexi) 19:40

 
Friday 2 August 2024
SS2 Laukaa 1 (18km) 8:13
SS3 Saarikas 1 (15.5km) 9:20
SS4 Myhinpää 1 (15.51km) 10:35
SS5 Ruuhimäki 1 (7.76km) 12:05

Service B Paviljonki (40 min) 13:27

SS6 Laukaa 2 (18km) 15:10
SS7 Saarikas 2 (15.5km) 16:17
SS8 Myhinpää 2 (15.51km) 17:32
SS9 Ruuhimäki 2 (7.76km) 19:05
SS 10 Harju 2 (2.01km) 20:05

Service C Paviljonki (45 min, flexi) 20:40

 
Saturday 3 August 2024
SS 11 Västilä 1 (18.94km) 9:05
SS 12 Päijälä 1 (20.19km) 10:05
SS 13 Ouninpohja 1 (33km) 11:05

Service D Paviljonki (40 min) 13:10

SS 14 Västilä 2 (18.94km) 15:35
SS 15 Päijälä 2 (20.19km) 16:35
SS 16 Ouninpohja 2 (33km) 17:35

Service E Paviljonki (45 min, flexi) 19:30

 
Sunday 4 August 2024
SS 17 Sahloinen-Moksi 1 (14.4km) 8:55
SS 18 Laajavuori 1 (4.19km) 10:05
SS 19 Sahloinen-Moksi 2 (14.4km) 11:17
SS 20 Laajavuori 2 (8.53km) 13:15

Finish - Paviljonki 15:00