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 Two Finnish pairings, one of which leads the drivers' standings in the FIA World Rally Championship, eager to claim a maiden victory on their home rally and one of the sport's classic fixtures, competing for a team that leads the manufacturers' title race.
The scene is set for an epic contest as Rally Finland (31 July - 1 August) fires the second half of the 2008 campaign into life after a seven-week break.
Their rivals will ensure this ninth round of the series is not merely a straight contest between BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen and team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila, but the internal rivalry will be fierce.
However, both pairings are also firmly aware that this event offers the opportunity to stretch Ford's nine point lead in the manufacturers' series with the record-breaking Focus RS World Rally Car.
Victory in Finland, the sport's spiritual home, is one of rallying's most sought after achievements and home drivers have a distinct advantage on one of the most specialised events of the season. Only six non-Finns have won the rally in 57 years, and huge crowds flock into the countryside amid the lakes and forests near the host town of Jyväskylä to cheer on their fellow countrymen.
 It is based on blisteringly fast roller-coaster gravel speed tests and drivers who grew up on this type of road have a clear advantage over 'outsiders' who require several years' experience before they can hope to challenge for a win. Rally Finland boasts five of the six fastest rallies in history, the 2005 round topping the all-time list at a remarkable average speed of 122.86kph.
The wide, hard roads are as smooth as a billiard table but technically it is an incredibly difficult rally. Precision driving and bravery are more important here than anywhere else. The awesome stomach-churning jumps frequently hide bends over the crest, so accuracy and delivery of pace notes must be exact and picking the right line before 'take-off' ensures maximum pace through the following curves.
This will be the seventh appearance here for Hirvonen, who lives in Jyväskylä and will celebrate his 28th birthday on the day of the start next Thursday. Last year's second place is his best result. "I've stood beside these stages since I was a kid watching heroes like Markku Alen and Ari Vatanen driving. My family and friends will all be out watching and it would be a fantastic feeling to stand on the top step of the podium in front of them on the Sunday afternoon," said Hirvonen.
"But there are other drivers who are capable of preventing me from doing that. There is a little more pressure on me to win in Finland than on other rallies but it's nothing I can't cope with. I can't wait because it's the first time that I will start my home rally leading the championship. This rally is all about bravery, trust in the pace notes and accuracy. There is simply no room for mistakes," he added.
Latvala is just as eager for the action to start. "It would be special to win on home ground in Finland. Victory here is more highly regarded than in some other world rallies. It requires solid experience of the rally and I need to be able to drive flat out from start to finish without making mistakes. Anyone hoping to win needs to have completed the full rally – from start to finish – at least twice. I've done that and have started on three other occasions," said the 23-year-old.
"I know parts of Saturday's new stages, some of which are narrower than the traditional wide roads used during the second leg. I feel very confident after finishing second in Turkey last month. I made mistakes in Argentina and Italy and had problems in Greece before that so the result in Turkey was a big relief. It gave me a real boost to fight with Mikko and Sébastien Loeb and take that confidence into the summer break. Our pre-event test has been moved closer to the rally, which is good because it will give me the right feeling to take into the rally after the summer," he added.
Khalid Al Qassimi and Michael Orr will drive a third Focus RS on the first anniversary of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority's partnership with Ford. "My first year in the WRC has been a process of learning the various driving techniques and styles required to negotiate the new terrain I’ve encountered. I've finished every event, but in Finland my pace notes and stage experience should benefit my times. It will be the first rally where I can look at my previous year's performance and assess my progress. I’m intrigued to know how I am developing one year into my WRC career," said 36-year-old Al Qassimi.
Team News
As part of the sport's new regulations, BP Ford Abu Dhabi will have just one tyre pattern from Pirelli. The Scorpion gravel tyre will be available in hard compound only. Because anti-deflation mousse is also outlawed this year, the Scorpion includes reinforced sidewalls to offer increased protection against punctures. Teams are not allowed to hand-carve additional cuts into the rubber and each car can carry two spares.
Nine other Focus RS cars are entered. Gigi Galli / Giovanni Bernacchini and Henning Solberg / Cato Menkerud are nominated for points by the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford team while Matthew Wilson / Scott Martin will drive a third car. Munchi's Ford World Rally Team has nominated Federico Villagra / Jorge Pérez Companc and Luis Perez Companc / Jose Maria Volta to score. Four other privately-entered Focus RS cars are also entered. Fourteen Fiesta ST cars will also start what is the third round of the Fiesta SportingTrophy International, nine of which are registered for the series.
The team completes a four-day pre-event test in Finland today. Hirvonen completed the opening two days on Monday and Tuesday with Latvala taking over yesterday.
Rally Route
For the second year almost half the route is new, although the rally remains in its traditional central Finland base of Jyväskylä. Organisers have focused on ensuring the roads are durable enough for an entry boasting more than 100 cars. After the traditional Thursday evening super special stage at Killeri trotting track, Friday's action is based west of Jyväskylä. The major changes are centred on Saturday's second leg which contains virtually half the competitive distance. Traditionally regarded as the year's classic day of competition, it is again based on wide and flowing roads near Jämsä, but five of the 10 stages are new from last year. The awesome Ouninpohja, a roller-coaster section of road full of sweeping bends, blind crests and jumps and viewed as rallying's ultimate test of skill and bravery, will not be used for safety reasons, although parts of the stage are incorporated into another test. Sunday's final leg covers three tests east of Jyväskylä. Drivers face 340.42km of action in a 1461.58km route.
RALLY FINLAND
ROUND 9 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
31 July - 3 August 2008
Thursday 31 July: Day 1 Jyväskylä - Jyväskylä
Start Jyväskylä Paviljonki 19.00
SS1 SSS Killeri 1 2.06km 19.45
Finish Jyväskylä Paviljonki 20.15
Friday 1 August: Day 1 (continued) Jyväskylä - Jyväskylä
Serv A Paviljonki (15 mins) 06.30
SS2 Vellipohja 1 17.16km 07.30
SS3 Mökkiperä 1 11.38km 08.26
SS4 Palsankylä 1 13.90km 09.09
Serv B Paviljonki (30 mins) 10.32
SS5 Vellipohja 2 17.16km 11.47
SS6 Mökkiperä 2 11.38km 12.43
SS7 Palsankylä 2 13.90km 13.26
Serv C Paviljonki (30 mins) 14.49
SS8 Urria 12.65km 16.18
SS9 Lautaperä 7.87km 16.50
SS10 Jukojärvi 22.18km 17.29
SS11 SSS Killeri 2 2.06km 20.00
Serv D Paviljonki (45 mins) 20.30
Finish Paviljonki 21.15
Total 131.70km
Saturday 2 August: Day 2 Jyväskylä - Jyväskylä
Serv E Paviljonki (15 mins) 06.00
SS12 Himos 15.35km 07.13
SS13 Hirvimäki 10.67km 08.09
SS14 Surkee 1 14.80km 08.34
Serv F Paviljonki (30 mins) 09.33
SS15 Leustu 21.43km 10.46
SS16 Kakaristo 1 20.09km 11.45
SS17 Kaipolanvuori 13.64km 12.26
SS18 Surkee 2 14.80km 13.31
Serv G Paviljonki (30 mins) 14.30
SS19 Kakaristo 2 20.09km 16.13
SS20 Juupajoki 21.13km 17.03
SS21 Väärinmaja 16.25km 17.56
Serv H Paviljonki (45 mins) 19.51
Finish Paviljonki 20.36
Total 168.25km
Sunday 3 August: Day 3 Jyväskylä - Jyväskylä
Serv I Paviljonki (15 mins) 08.20
SS22 Lankamaa 23.09km 09.38
SS23 Hannula 10.92km 10.44
SS24 Ruuhimäki 6.46km 12.02
Finish Paviljonki 13.30
Total 40.47km
Rally total 340.42km
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