WRC News: Rally Finland This Weekend!

Rally Finland, set to begin on August 31, has been an icon of the WRC since 1973. With its long, sweeping curves, jumps, and gravel, it’s known as the "gravel Grand Prix" and is a favorite of drivers and fans alike—well over half a million spectators tune into the event each year. WRC superstar Sebastien Loeb is out for first Finland win this weekend—in his six years of competing on this course, he’s always been outdone by the likes of Mikko Hirvonen and Marcus Gronholm. With Gronholm now retired, Loeb is hoping to take the victory at last. However, "Flying Finns" Mikko Hirvonen, Jari-Matti Latvala, Petter and Hennig Solberg will be hard to beat on their home Rally so watch for the dust to fly this weekend as we rejoin the WRC season following its two-month hiatus.

Another one to watch is newcomer manufacturer Suzuki. After just entering the WRC this season, their second iteration of the SX4 WRC comes to the Rally Finland this weekend. Most manufacturers wait 2 to 4 years before releasing a revised version of their WRC car, but for Suzuki the learning curve has been steep—they are committed to fast-tracking the car up into the higher points scoring positions. Stay tuned to see how it turns out!