Ott Tänak set the fastest time in shakedown for Rally Finland this morning as the Estonian was 3 tenths faster than his team mate Craig Breen.
The Hyundai’s got off to a good start in shakedown with a 1-2-4. Championship leader Sébastien Ogier, who has a (small) theorectical chance of sealing his eighth WRC-championship this weekend, was third fastest, 9 tenths shy off Tänak’s pace. Thierry Neuville was 2 tenths behind Ogier and a tenth faster than winner last time out in Greece, Kalle Rovanperä.
Elfyn Evans’ best finish in Finland dates from the 2017 edition of the event when the Welshman finished second. The Toyota-driver was sixth fastest in shakedown, 4 tenths behind Rovanperä. Esapekka Lappi returns to the WRC this weekend in a privately entered Toyota Yaris WRC. The Finn won the 2017-edition which is still his only WRC-win to date. Lappi was seventh, 2 tenths behind Evans.
Takamoto Katsuta competes together with Aaron Johnston reading the pace notes for the Japanese driver. Katsuta was 2 tenths behind Lappi’s pace. M-Sport drivers Adrien Fourmaux and Gus Greensmith completed the top 10, 4.5 and 4.8 seconds off the leading pace respectively.
Suninen quickest WRC2-driver
Teemu Suninen was the quickest non WRC-driver in shakedown this morning. The Finn drives a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 on his home event. Oliver Solberg was second fastest in the Hyundai i20 N Rally2, 6 tenths behind Suninen and 3 tenths ahead of Mads Østberg. In WRC3, Eerik Pietarinen was the fastest driver.
The rally starts this afternoon with a total of six stages scheduled for today. SS1 gets underway at 13:38 local time (12:38 CET, 11:38 BST). Quick preview of the event here.
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WRC Rally Finland 2021 Shakedown results
| # | Drivers | Car | Time / Diff. to 1st |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tänak / Järveoja | Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC | 1:46.5 |
| 2. | Breen / Nagle | Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC | +0.3 |
| 3. | Ogier / Ingrassia | Toyota Yaris WRC | +0.9 |
| 4. | Neuville / Wydaeghe | Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC | +1.1 |
| 5. | Rovanperä / Halttunen | Toyota Yaris WRC | +1.2 |
| 6. | Evans / Martin | Toyota Yaris WRC | +1.6 |
| 7. | Lappi / Ferm | Toyota Yaris WRC | +1.8 |
| 8. | Katsuta / Johnston | Toyota Yaris WRC | +2.0 |
| 9. | Fourmaux / Coria | Ford Fiesta WRC | +4.5 |
| 10. | Greensmith / Patterson | Ford Fiesta WRC | +4.8 |
Photo: Hyundai Motorsport