Rally Finland 2009 started with a 2,06kms Super Special at the Killeri Horse track tonight. Petter, who was paired against Henning, ended with sixth. Fastest were Sebastien Loeb, Dani Sordo second and Mikko Hirvonen third.

Rally Finland continues with 9 more stages Friday. First car on road from 0738 (local time).

Overall classification SS1

1. Loeb, Citroen
2. Sordo, Citroen +0,1
3. Hirvonen, Ford +0,9
4. Novikov, Citroen +1,2
5. Ogier, Citroen +1,2
6. Petter, Citroen +1,4
7. Latvala, Ford +1,5
7. Henning, Ford +1,5

Petter endte tilslutt nest raskest på dagens Shakedown i Finland. Raskeste tid fikk Sebastien Loeb. Petter fikk sin bestetid på den andre av totalt tre gjennomkjøringer, og var lenge raskeste bil igjennom. Loeb fikk sin beste tid på fjerde gjennomkjøring. Testkjøringen foregikk på en avstengt vei 6 km utenfor sentrum av Jyväskylä.

Rally Finland starter med en Super Spesial kl 1900 i kveld.Petter ended with the second fastest time at today’s Shakedown in Finland. Fastest through the 3,76kms test stage were Sebastien Loeb. Petter did three runs in total, setting the fastest time on the second pass. Loeb was fastest on his fourth run.

Rally Finland starts with a Super Special at 1900 tonight.

Shakedown times

Loeb 2.02,2
Petter 2.02,6
Sordo 2.03,3
Østberg 2.03,4
Mikko 2.03,7
Henning 2.03,7
Wilson 2.03,9
Latvala 2.04,1

The summer break is over, and we have travelled to Finland and the city of Jyväskylä for the 9th event in the WRC this year – Rally Finland. A Super Special at the Killeri horse track kicks of the rally in the evening on Thursday 30 July and continues with 22 more stages during the weekend. 90 cars are on the entry list. The gravel roads in Finland are the most spectacular in the championship – it is in Finland you can see cars fly 50 mtrs and speed above 200 km/ph. Petter Solberg still has the speed record through the famous “Ouninpojha” stage, set in 2004.

Petters best result in Finland is second place in 2003, he ended sixth in 2008. The list of previous winners is dominated with Finnish names. Marcus Grønholm has seven victories here, and Tommi Mäkinen won before that. The exception is Sebastien Loeb, who took his first victory in Finland in 2008.

- We are working flat out to find a way to make the car faster for Finland, especially working on dampers and the height of the car. We are also working hard to find a solution that will make us able to fight for podiums all the way, unfortunately we didn’t get it before Finland. Being realistic, I think 4/5 is the best result we can expect here, considering how fast some of the stages are. But anyway – Finland is an awesome rally and I can’t wait until it starts, says Petter Solberg.

Itinerary, Rally Finland 2009 local times

Thursday 30 July
1900 SS1 SSS Killeri 1 2,06km

Friday 31 July0738 SS2 Jukojärvi 1 22,29km
0811 SS3 Kruununperä 1 13,51km
0859 SS4 Mökkiperä 1 13,64km
0946 SS5 Palsankylä 1 13,92km
Service Paviljonki 30 min
1302 SS6 Jukojärvi 2 22,29km
1335 SS7 Kruununperä 2 13,52km
1423 SS8 Mökkiperä 2 13,64km
1510 SS9 Palsankylä 2 13,92km
Flexi Service Paviljonki 45 min
2000 SS10 SSS Killeri 2 2,06km

Saturday 1 August
0713 SS11 Leustu 1 21,35km
0802 SS12 Himos 1 20,94km
0925 SS13 Surkee 1 14,95km
Service Paviljonki 30 min
1137 SS14 Leustu 2 21,35km
1226 SS15 Himos 2 20,94km
1349 SS16 Surkee 2 14,95km
Service Paviljonki 30 min
1611 SS17 Urria 12,75km
1719 SS18 Kavala 10,35km
1752 SS19 Väärinmaja 29,29km
Flexi Service Paviljonki 45 min

Sunday 2 August
0817 SS20 Hannula 10,82km
0858 SS21 Myhinpää 1 15,06km
1051 SS22 Myhinpää 2 15,06km
1218 SS23 Ruuhimäki 6,50km
Service Paviljonki 10 min
1400 Podium

Kazuko from Japan was one of the three winners that won Petters competition. She couldn’t go to Greece, so Petter invited her to Finland instead. Now she is back in Japan, and this is her Finland-report. 

Wednesday 30 July
18:00 I arrived at Jyvaskyla airport. It took about 10hours by airplane from Tokyo to Jyvaskyla. PSSC staff, Tone, picked me up at the airport. I was relieved that she was very nice and kind. After I checked in to the hotel, I went to see her to go to dinner. She said, ”Petter comes here in a couple of minutes.” I was shocked since I hadn’t thought I could meet him on Wednesday! My heart started pounding! One minute later he appeared. He was really busy but he kindly talked to me in simple English slowly, and we took a picture together.
21:00 Tone took me to the service park next to Jyvaskyla station. It took only a few minutes from the hotel by walk. It’s 21:00 but not dark.

Day 1 Thursday 31 July
7:30 Shakedown. I went to the Subaru service park. I was surprised since I watched “Solberg 5” impreza just 2 meters away! How loud the exhaust noise was! I saw Petter again. He gave me autographs not only for me, but for Tokyo Subaru Jonan branch that was the shop I bought my Legacy. They always work very hard so I really wanted to get it for them. Petter was willing to give it in spite of just 30minutes before the shakedown. And he cared if I was enjoying this trip. And then, Tone introduced Phil to me. I gave him a love letter from Viki! I got to know her on this site in last October and now she is my best friend!
18:00 SSS Killeri 1. I left the hotel at 18:00. It took only 10minutes by car. There were a lot of spectators. I was jumping when Petter was driving, otherwise I saw only the back heads of tall Finnish. After Petter finished the stage, he opened the door and waved his hand to the spectators.

Re-start Day 1 Friday 1 August
11:47 SS5 Vellipohja 2. I enjoyed the scenary on the way to Vellipohja. A lot of lakes and beautiful forest….it was like a picture! I watched Petter turned the corner smoothly from the third row. It was very fun cheering him with Norwegian supporters! They asked me to bring the song to Rally Japan. “Petter Solberg♪Petter solberg♪ole♪ole♪♪ole♪Norge!” I must convince shy Japanese to sing that song!
14:00 I had lunch at the Subaru service park. It tasted wonderful!
14:57 Petter arrived the service park and waved his hand to the spectators.
15:27 Petter went out to SS8.
19:00 BBQ at the Subaru service park. I talked to Norwegian supporters and asked them how to pronounce some Norwegian. I had a really good time but one of them asked me, ”Do you eat a dog?” No way!

Day 2 Saturday 2 August
8:30 I left the hotel to Kakaristo. It was only 10 degrees! It’s just like November in Tokyo! On the way to Kakaristo, Tone took me to a gravel road that used to be SS. We talked about pace note. “jump” “big jump” We were just like Petter and Phil! Actually she drove the car at about 40km/h so we didn’t jump!
10:30 SS16 Kakaristo 1. There were a lot of spectators and shops. I talked to Finnish. They asked me, “Who is your favorite driver?” I answered immediately,”Petter Solberg!” The view was wonderful and wide. In the forest, I heard that the exhaust note was getting bigger, and the FIA course staffs whistled, then rally cars came in front of us and run incredibly fast. It’s so exciting! Petter had a trouble with his car but I know he always does his best!
14:10 Lunch at the Subaru service park. I looked at the screen that showed the present results.
14:38 Petter came back to the service park. He waved his hand to the spectators as always even though he was extremely busy.
15:08 Petter left the service park to SS19.
19:00 At the Subaru service park. I was surprised that as soon as he arrived there, the mechanics changed the engine and suspension only within 45minutes!
Day 3 Sunday 3 August
10:30 SS24 Ruuhimaki. It took only 30minutes from the hotel to the parking near SS24 then 10minutes by walk. I was in the first row at the last corner close to finish gate. It’s very dusty but I felt the power of the rally cars climbing the hill! I was really happy that Petter got the fastest time at this SS!

I had a wonderful time whole of this weekend. It’s absolutely VIP weekend! We parked the car in the restricted area with “magic” media pass and took a rest in the Subaru service park.

At the airport, I was a little upset because fantastic rally trip has ended. But my luck hadn’t run out! When I was waiting the airplane suddenly Petter appeared there! He found me and talked to me kindly. So I showed him the video that I recorded his driving at the last SS today and talked about a lot of things about 15minute in total! He is really nice, kind and always cares a lot about his fans.

Petter,
Thank you very much! You have really made my dream come true! I will never forget this wonderful trip! I’d like to say thank you in Norwegian. “Takk. Mange takk!” I keep supporting you as much as possible! See you in Rally Japan!

Tone,
You took care of me a lot and very well. And you put up with my bad English for 5days! Mange takk! I really appreciate your help!

Kazuko (Kazu from Japan)

Petter ended 6th in Finland, while team-colleague Chris Atkinson ended 3rd. The winner of Rally Finland 2008 is Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen ended 2nd. Petters brother, Henning, ended 5th.

Petter has been in the same position through out the rally, but finished Rally Finland with a stage win on SS24 Ruuhimäki.
Overall Classification Rally Finland 2008

1.  Sébastien Loeb, Citroen   0.0
2.  Mikko Hirvonen, Ford   +9.0
3.  Chris Atkinson, Subaru   +3:17.0
4.  Dani Sordo, Citroen   +3:30.9
5.  Henning Solberg, Ford   +3:57.7
6.  Petter Solberg, Subaru   +4:04.1
7.  Matti Rantanen, Ford   +6:11.1
8.  Toni Gardemeister, Suzuki   +8:18.7

Results Day 2

1. Sébastien LOEB +0.0
 
2. Mikko HIRVONEN +18.2
 
3. Chris ATKINSON +3:03.6
 
4. Dani SORDO  +3:04.6
 
5. Henning SOLBERG +3:31.6
 
6. Petter SOLBERG +3:58.7
 
7. Matti RANTANEN +5:55.2
 
8. Toni GARDEMEISTER +7:28.6
 
9. Matthew WILSON +7:54.5
 
10.Conrad RAUTENBACH +9:29.1

Rally Finland will finish tomorrow with three stages

Petter is 6th when the first day of Rally Finland are finished. Sebastien Loeb is leading the rally, while Mikko Hirvonen is second. Petters brother, Henning, are in third position.

Several drivers have retired during the day. First out was Jari-Matti Latvala, when he went off on the second stage of the day. Urmo Aava went off on stage 9, and both Mads Østberg and Andreas Mikkelsen retired during the day.

The new Impreza has been struggling a bit today. Petter says he feels he has been driving well, but the car is not fast enough yet. – In Finland, it’s so fast and you need to have so much confidence in the car. We don’t have that feeling here yet, so it really shows in the times. I was feeling good before the weekend, after the test, but we don’t have that same feeling here, and it’s really disappointing for everyone.

Rally Finland continues with 10 more stages tomorrow, and this will really be a hard test for the drivers. The first stage starts at 0713, and the stages will be run in the area around Jämsä, 60 kms south of Jyväskylä.

Overall classification Day 1

1. Loeb, Citroen
2. Hirvonen, Ford +14,4
3. Henning, Ford +53,1
4. Galli, Ford +56,2
5. Sordo, Citroen +1.05,4
6. Petter, Subaru +1.37,8
7. Atkinson, Subaru +1.14,1
8. Anderson, Suzuki +2.20,4

2. Petter +0.0

3. Loeb +0.6

4. Galli + 0.6

5. Gardermeister +1.1

6. Mikkelsen +1.1

7. Hirvonen +2.2

8. Østberg +2.6

9. Latvala +3.4