Unveiled in Helsinki, a 33km format of the legendary Ouninpohja will be the highlight of the 2024 Secto Rally Finland itinerary, which features a 61% change from the 2023 route.
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 create a fresh challenge with its 2024 route unveiling an itinerary comprising 20 special stages totaling 305 competitive kilometres.
Besides the 61% route change, a further 12 per cent has not been used since the mid-1990s
The city of Jyväskylä will again host the event, accommodating 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 stages, 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.”
