Neste Oil Rally Finland - Latest news

Thank You

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:24:00 GMT

Thank You

Together we made it.

60th Anniversary Cavalcade - Historic roar of rally engines

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:02:00 GMT

60th Anniversary Cavalcade - Historic roar of rally engines

A nostalgic selection of old rally cars will run through half a dozen special stages to mark the occasion of the 60th Jubilee Event. Nearly 20 models from the 50´s to 90´s represent a remarkable development from the earliest days of special stage rallying.

This cavalcade will precede the arrival of competitors on six special stages: one on Thursday, three on Friday and two on Saturday. Each model of car has had a significant role to play in this event.

They did not all manage to win, but are surely fondly remembered by seasoned spectators. A Fiat 131 Abarth is a very different animal to a Trabant, but both have been a regular feature of the "Gravel Grand Prix".

The shapes, sounds and even sizes reveal a fascinating insight into rally car development from modestly prepared sedans to specialized forest racers. Still, every one of them somehow managed to offer a spectacle of its own kind. Just listen to the once familiar sounds of a two-stroke Saab and a turbocharged Audi Quattro.

60th Anniversary Cavalcade Schedule

Finland hosts FIA Road Safety Seminar

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:35:00 GMT

Finland hosts FIA Road Safety Seminar

An FIA Road Safety Seminar took place on Thursday in Jyväskylä, Finland. Held on the eve of Finland´s World Championship rally at Rally HQ Jyväskylä Paviljonki, the event was attended by leading experts from various fields related to road safety.

Part of FIA´s Make Roads Safe campaign, the seminar was jointly opened by FIA President Jean Todt and Finland´s Minister of Economic Affairs, Mauri Pekkarinen. Presentations were given by David Ward, Director General of FIA Foundation, Juhani Jääskeläinen, Head of Unit ICT for Transport in European Commission, Pasi Nieminen, CEO of Automobile and Touring Club of Finland, Tamur Tsäkko, General Director of Estonian Road Administration, Sirkku Laapotti, Senior Research Docent from University of Turku, as well as former F1 driver, test and training specialist Alex Wurz.

Mr Ward outlined that road traffic fatality rates in low and middle-income countries are double the rates in high income countries. Most at risk are children, young people and vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. He also pointed out that only 15 % of countries worldwide are considered by the WHO to have comprehensive road safety laws. It is recognized that in the EU good progress is made, but more action needed.

From a European Union perspective Mr Jääskeläinen stated that human error is involved in 93 % of accidents causing deaths or injury. A notable statement from Mr Ward was that the risk of human error should be anticipated by a "forgiving" system, which ensures that the consequences are non-fatal as far as possible. The design challenge is to manage loss of control of kinetic energy within the tolerances survivable by the human body.

Ms Laapotti focused on significant aspects in young drivers´ accidents. She pointed out that risk taking behavior of this group is not specific to motoring accidents, but is similar in other activities, too. The most accident-prone age seems to be 18, risk rapidly climbing before it and declining after. In a period between 1999 and 2008 no less than 62 % of young drivers (18-20 years of age) involved in fatal accidents did not use a seat belt, or in case of motorcycle accidents wear a helmet.

Mr. Wurz explained about the benefits of multiphase driver training required for getting a driver´s license in Austria. The decrease in accidents can clearly be seen particularly during the first years of driving. Improved skills in vehicle manoeuvring and control have an important role in enhancing safety. Mr. Wurz emphasized the need of suitable training facilities for this purpose. A relatively small country in size and population, Austria today boasts nine test and training facilities within its borders.

For more information, please contact:

Jani Backman, General Secretary of AKK-Motorsport ry

+358 (0) 40 522 4346, jani.backman@autourheilu.fi

Greatest ever fireworks show to crown Jubilee Neste Oil Rally Finland

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:36:00 GMT

Greatest ever fireworks show to crown Jubilee Neste Oil Rally Finland

The 60th Jubilee Event of Neste Oil Rally Finland will be concluded with a majestic fireworks show on Saturday night. The 32 minute spectacle is going to offer rally fans in Jyväskylä uniquely spectacular fireworks as a highlight of the night.

The display organized in co-operation with Suomen Ilotulitus Oy, an established specialist in the field, is the largest in scale ever seen in Finland and truly massive even by global standards. It can be seen from afar, as the fireworks will be shot from Lake Jyväsjärvi.

The memorable show will exploit elements of pyrotechnics and pyromusical. It will be synchronized with music, highlighting some Finnish elements while not forgetting the event´s 60 years jubilee either, thereby providing onlookers with a tremendous experience.

The environment is a core value for rally organizer AKK Sports, as is domestic production. The same is true with Suomen Ilotulitus Oy, which develops and produces its products domestically in Tuusula, just north of Helsinki.

Environmentally friendly raw materials are used in this great fireworks show instead of heavy metals such as lead. The rockets´ skins and shells are biodegradable and debris from weather and sparks shielding can be collected from the lake with a net covering the whole launching area.

Radio listeners may also be able to join in this unique occasion with YLE Keski-Suomi looking into the possibilities of broadcasting the great climax of the Jubilee Event.

Finland´s Greatest Fireworks Show takes place in Jyväskylä Paviljonki on Saturday, July 31st, from 22.30 on.

A Thriller in Laajavuori - Supermoto meets WRC!

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:34:00 GMT

A Thriller in Laajavuori - Supermoto meets WRC!

Neste Oil Rally Finland and the WRC drivers challenge top class motorists to race their bikes against the clock and their four-wheeled rivals on the legendary slope in Laajavuori.

This is like nothing you´ve ever experienced before. The classic super stage in Laajavuori offers surroundings for a superb motoring thriller that will decide once and for all which is better: a supermoto motorcycle or a World Rally Car.

The Supermotos will clock their times on Thursday and Friday before the super stage begins, after which the WRC challengers will hit the stage.

The Supermoto section will include riders such as multiple enduro World Champion Samuli Aro and Erkki Silvasti, who continues to succeed in Finnish nationals both in supermoto and ice racing.

Enduro in Moksi

And that´s not the end of it. Neste Oil Rally Finland will pay homage to vehicle performance and driver skill no matter what the terrain. The rally audience will be able to see an amazing enduro show between the Surkee special stages that will involve top riders mastering the challenging slope at Moksi glade with staggering finesse.

Join us and experience the incredible motor shows - the jubilee year goes top gear all the way.

Supermoto meets WRC at the Laajavuori special stage Thu 6 PM and Fri 7 PM.

List of Entries in Seeded Order

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

List of Entries in Seeded Order

The List of Entries in Seeded Order is now published.

You may download the list from the link below:

List of Entries in Seeded Order (Adobe PDF)