Ralli.net

Hello Everybody!

I'm experienced rally spectator from Poland (14 years of spectating), but I've never been on a Rally Finland, or even WRC event outside Poland. Still I'm going to visit Rally Finland (Yes, the Jerusalem, Mecca and Shangrilla of all rallies)

I would like to ask some questions about (and get answers!) the rally. First and most important questions are:

Is it allowed to drive a SS a day before competition? If so, is it possible in normal (Mazda 6,no 4x4) car, or is the road to rough?

Are there any places alongside the SS (cojunct roads are best) where I will be able to park a car and set a camp for a night? Are there many of such roads or one in let's say 10 km of SS? Are tents allowed in finnish forests? Are campfires allowed? If no, is it allowed to sleep in a car parked near a SS?

As You can see, I'm planning to get to the selected stage day before the competition, spend a night in a tent or a car, and then to cheer the drivers all day long. This pattern is to be reapeted on day number two, and then on day number three.

I will be very grateful for answers. Sorry for my crappy english, i hope the message is understandable. Probably more questions will come later.
I will be very glad to serve same guidance about Rally Poland 2017 in return. We don't have as many good spots as You do, but, when You find one, You can stand wherever You want and do whatever You want. Spectators safety is not a priority here. Just watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfbwomFg_iI

this is the biggest jump from 2015 edition, people were standing everywhere as You can see. Group B never died here, at least when it comes to spectators.

And dear moderator, please change the topic name to In need of guidance/Rally Finland 2016. It is a nigtmare to find the option by myself, because I cannot login when using google translator. If I'm not logged on, I can't see the option.

Hi ToKu,

1) Yes, you are allowed to drive the stages the day before and can do so with a normal car. Some very few and random places might not be accessible tough, for security and privacy reasons.

2) You can make a camp in many places, although there are also places where it is forbidden. The Finnish law gives you a right to make a camp almost anywhere, as long as you don't disturb anyone's privacy (so not allowed near homes etc.). Some sites are even prepared for camping and cost a little.

So in most cases as long as you park the car in a safe place with some distance to the stage, not blocking the road and not on anyone's yard, it should be fine to sleep there, either in the car or in a tent.

Spectator safety is a big, big concern in Rally Finland and thus official spectating areas are sometimes a bit limited and further from the road than some would wish. Still, great spots are available pretty much where ever you go... And with your tactic you might end up in a spot where no one is looking anyway, so you can do pretty much what you like. Just remember to behave! ;)

The official spectator guide magazine Tuulilasi (www.tuulilasi.fi) was at least this year available also in a digital form, so you can get it before arriving to see the official parking and spectating spots. It includes a lot of content in English too, even if the majority is in Finnish.

I'm happy to answer any further questions you have and of course welcome to Finland next summer!

Thanks for quick response!

Seems like basic plan is ok. I will be back here with more detailed questions about next year's route as soon as the route will be announced by organiser.

And don't worry. We won't make any stage cancelled (I'm going to the rally with my rally companion). First of all, we are always listening to safetys. It is their job, and if we are not happy with their orders, or directions, we are simply changing the spot. Second, we are not suicide squad, we are just rally fans, who thinks that watching rally (especially in the forrests, with no broad view, and more then 1000 km from home) from 50+ meters is pointless. We love to look for ourselves, and our rally emblem on onboards and highlights. We love to make lots of noise (whistles!) and to cheer not only top WRC drivers, but all drivers that compete!

As we say in Poland: It doesn't matter who is driving, It only matters how fast he is driving!

As said before, I'll be back here, but probably in next year when rally details will be emerging.

Hello,

I would like to say, that Neste Oil Rally Finland is the "high-end-product" of all the Finnish rallies. That means highest speeds, longest jumps and best drivers in the world but also lots of spectators, strict safety rules, big spectator areas, spectator fences and a lot of hush-hush by overkeen marshalls: "Do not walk in the road because first rally car in coming in an hour". Just to be clear, usually it is allowed to be spotted also elsewhere that in official spectator areas which are pointed in the official rally magazine.

But if you have a possibility to spend an extra week and enjoy beautiful Finnish summer, I would like to recommend you Lahti Historic EM Rally + National rally, which normally takes place one week after WRC in Jyväskylä. At least that was the schedule this year and according to preliminary 2016 Finnish Rally Calendar, it is same schedule next year. City of Lahti lies app. 170km south of Jyväskylä and because nice scheduling, some top Finnish drivers are participating also that historic event. This year Jari-Matti Latvala was competing his Audi Quattro and Mikko Hirvonen with Ford Escort BDA. This year there was totally 70pcs of Historic rally cars and some 60pcs of National rally cars. Stages in the Lahti area are similar smooth and fast gravel roads through the forests and fields like in Jyväskylä. Some of the stages are used also in WRC-event and some are even better than current WRC-stages!

There are significantly less spectators in that event and moving in the stages is therefore much more free and relaxing. There you can feel the real feeling and athmosphere of Finnish rallying without extra restrictions and have discussions with true local rallyfans. Lahti Rally is supposed to be a two day event (fri+sat), drivers do the recce in wed+thu and you can do the same if you like. In the national level there is usually a pacenote rally but also "a blind rally" where drivers can not do the recce to the stages. That is very common way in Finnish rallies. You can find photos and videos of this weekend's event from here Ralli.net topics if you like.

Summer in Finland is typically showing it's best at late July and beginning of August, so it is a very good time to spend some time and enjoy some Finnish lake and forest sceneries. Of course it can rain anytime... ;)

Like khilkemen said, there is a law that allows you to spend time and camp in forest if you don't bother anyone. But to be clear, basicly open fires are prohibited, one reason are the dry forests and risk of forest fires. Usually people still use their own barbecues, but that should be done in the road or some other flameproof surface.

So I would like to wish real rallyfans welcome to Finland! I have got similar questions and concerns as you, for example when watching local rally in Australia. And I have allways got a good support from local rallyfans so I'm also happy to help others.

br
-Juha