For all the top contenders in the WRC2 championship, this weekend’s Rally Finland holds great significance. It’s not just about the allure of winning the event, but also about the potential impact on their title aspirations. With only four more opportunities for points after this rally, the stakes are high for those who have already completed several rounds and have had varying levels of success throughout the season. Some drivers see a victory as the only way to keep their championship dreams alive, while others view Finland as a chance to establish their dominance. For a few, it’s an opportunity to bounce back from recent setbacks.
Oliver Solberg, currently leading the championship, has a golden opportunity to extend his advantage in Finland. As the favorite for this week, he has a strong track record in the country, having won the Rally2 class last year. With the most stage wins in WRC2 so far in 2024 and a reputation for performing well on fast rallies, Solberg is under pressure to deliver. His closest rivals, Sami Pajari and Yohan Rossel, won’t be competing against him in Finland, giving Solberg a chance to distance himself from them in the standings. A non-score this weekend would be a significant setback for Solberg, as he can only drop one score from the seven nominated points-scoring events.
Solberg’s teammate Gus Greensmith is in a “win or bust” situation. After a fantastic victory in Kenya, his campaign took a turn for the worse in Portugal when he retired from the lead. With only one dropped score allowed, Greensmith’s ninth-place finish in Poland has put him in a precarious position. Victory is his only target if he wants to stay in contention for the WRC2 title.
Pierre-Louis Loubet’s chances of winning a second WRC2 title are looking slim. Currently sitting in 23rd place in the championship, he has had a series of setbacks this season, including a roll in Portugal and a mechanical issue in Sardinia. Although he still has four rallies left to score on, carrying a zero likely means he’s already out of the title race. However, a win in Finland would be a great opportunity for Loubet to remind everyone of his capabilities and attract the attention of Rally1 teams.
Teemu Suninen has had a disappointing season so far, with zero points scored in four rallies. Mechanical problems, a lack of performance from his Hyundai, and a power-steering failure have hindered his results. While he can no longer win the WRC2 title this year, Suninen can still showcase his skills on one of the biggest rallies of the season. Finland has been a successful event for him in the past, and he has the chance to deliver a strong performance.
Four of the top five drivers in the championship standings won’t be scoring points in Finland. Sami Pajari and Yohan Rossel will not be competing against Oliver Solberg, while Nikolay Gryazin and Jan Solans have a slim chance of winning the championship. Their best hope is for Solberg to fail to score, and for one of the struggling contenders or a local Finnish driver to win the rally.
While the Finnish drivers may not be in the WRC2 title race, they could have a significant impact on the outcome of the rally. Their performances could catch the attention of bigger opportunities in the future. Drivers like Lauri Joona, Mikko Heikkilä, Roope Korhonen, Emil Lindholm, Teemu Asunmaa, and even Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala could all be strong contenders for victory or a podium finish. The WRC2 title hopefuls will need to beat these wildcard rivals to achieve their goals this week.
