Rovaniemi to host FIA World Rally Championship in end February

In addition to Jyväskylä, it will hold another championship event at the end of February in the middle of the Arctic scenery of Rovaniemi in the Finnish Lapland

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organisations.

Following an announcement in December that February’s Rally Sweden was cancelled, AKK Sports, the organiser of Rally Finland, got the chance to host the rally instead.

CEO of AKK Sports Riku Bitter said that Rovaniemi with its solid culture in organising winter rallies, good reputation as an international event city, and large number of enthusiastic and experienced rally-makers stood out.

“I am very pleased about how quickly the City of Rovaniemi embraced the idea, and we were lucky to get the equally enthusiastic CapitalBox as the other main partner of Arctic Rally Finland. It’s fantastic to be able to provide something extraordinary like this – we are making history together,” said Bitter.

The Finnish Rally Championship season opener took place in Rovaniemi on January 15-16, and preparations for the WRC event up next are already in full swing with the FRC staff, Visit Rovaniemi said in a release.

The organisers said they are taking extra special attention to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) responsibility practices, and all the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the state, the local authorities as well as the FIA will be adhered to.

If organising public events is not allowed, the Arctic Rally Finland organiser will not sell tickets to the event or set up any spectator areas – in which case, the organiser hopes everyone will stay home and enjoy the wide range of rally coverage provided by the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle and WRC+ All Live safely.

The new host city of the Finnish WRC round (February 26-28, 2021) is eager to show off its most fascinating sides and provide the best possible service.

Chair of the Rovaniemi City Board Liisa Ansala said, “We are proud to be involved in bringing the Arctic Rally Finland to Rovaniemi. The Arctic elements, the snow and ice, create unique conditions for the WRC event. Our city is supporting the organisation in every way possible by building a high-quality setting for this one-of-a-kind sports event.”

According to CapitalBox CEO Scott Donnelly, “The Arctic Rally Finland is a high-level event. People will remember this WRC event for a long time to come – and together we will make it an amazing experience for the entire rallying world to marvel at and enjoy!”

The Rovaniemi round has been planned as a three-day event; the action starts on Friday February 26, with a shakedown in the morning, and the first special stages of the rally proper on Friday evening.

The competition continues on February 27 with three stages, with participants driving twice in and around the Rovaniemi area.

The Arctic Rally Finland Powered by CapitalBox ends on February 28 with the rally-closing Power Stage taking place in the afternoon.

To sum up, the Rovaniemi WRC round at the end of February will feature 10 special stages and a total distance of approximately 260 special stage kilometres.