Secto Rally Finland (31 July – 03 August) presents a high-speed problem for the FIA Rally Star crews as the long-lasting gravel occasion returns for its 2025 version. For Estonian duo Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja, it marks their sixth WRC2 outing of the season, whereas Australian Taylor Gill and South African Max Good head into their penultimate Junior WRC look, the place each stage, break up and second will likely be essential in a tightly contested title combat.
Since becoming a member of the WRC calendar in 1973, Rally Finland has constructed a popularity as one of the vital iconic rallies on the calendar. This yr, it is going to check the FIA Rally Star crews as they purpose to remain constantly fast by way of Finland’s quick, flowing gravel levels, balancing pace with precision over the occasion’s well-known jumps and crests.
For the FIA Rally Star trio of Romet Jürgenson/Siim Oja, Taylor Gill/Dan Brkic, and Max Good/Malcolm Learn, this will likely be a real check of their capabilities. Competing in each Junior WRC and WRC2, the drivers will face fierce competitors as they aim prime outcomes. Every is raring to construct on the teachings they’ve realized to date this season and make their mark on one of many sport’s most prestigious occasions.
Jürgenson concentrating on third prime 5 end.
Recent from a formidable dwelling efficiency at Rally Estonia, Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja are keen to maintain the momentum going. The duo secured their greatest WRC2 end result on dwelling soil with a second prime 5 end of the season and head into Rally Finland with renewed confidence.
“Estonia gave us so much to construct on,” stated Jürgenson. “We’re heading to Finland in a constructive way of thinking and with confidence on our facet. We did the rally final yr, and though the floor differs from Estonia, the pace and rhythm are fairly related. We’re assured on quick gravel and aiming for an additional sturdy end result.”
The WRC2 area in Finland, nonetheless, is among the many best of the season, with 27 Rally2 entries together with native title challengers Roope Korhonen, Lauri Joona, and Emil Lindholm, who will little question profit from their dwelling area benefit. This implies the Estonian duo might want to lean on each little bit of expertise and rallycraft they’ve amassed in 2025 to safe a robust end result right here.
Gill Aiming for Fourth Consecutive Podium in Junior WRC Title Push
Taylor Gill and co-driver Daniel Brkic have been a standout pressure within the 2025 Junior WRC, taking two wins and a second place from three begins. Heading into Rally Finland, the Australian duo lead the championship by seven factors and are concentrating on a fourth straight podium to strengthen their title bid.
Their final outing in Greece noticed them ship a composed and mature drive to complete second, regardless of a number of punctures on the occasion’s notoriously tough terrain. Now, Finland brings a really totally different problem: flat out gravel pace, one the younger Australian is embracing. “I’m actually excited to get again to a rally the place we will push from the beginning,” stated Gill. “There’s nonetheless some puncture threat, as we realized final yr, however total, it’s about committing and driving flat out constantly, and that’s our plan.”
On account of the pair’s sturdy run of type this season, they nonetheless have a drop-score spherical obtainable, giving them the liberty to extract additional efficiency. As Gill explains, “Having a drop spherical nonetheless obtainable provides us that additional little bit of confidence to push tougher. We all know that even when we overstep a bit, we will drop that end result and play it safer within the subsequent one. It provides us an edge over others who’ve already used theirs and now need to be a bit extra cautious.”
The pair additionally get pleasure from previous success in Finland, having beforehand received right here in 2024. “It’s massively useful to have that have,” Gill added. “We’ve received all the info, onboards, and tempo notes from final yr, and I do know precisely the place we will enhance on our efficiency, the place we have to push and the place we have to maintain again, so hopefully that may give us an additional benefit in Finland and can assist us to take one other podium.”
Good Targets Breakthrough Podium on Finnish Gravel
Max Good and co-driver Malcolm Learn head to Rally Finland sitting eighth within the Junior WRC standings, decided to safe their first podium of the 2025 season. The younger South African got here heartbreakingly shut in Greece, operating in second earlier than a hidden rock ripped off a wheel and ended their podium cost.
Now again on extra acquainted floor, Good is concentrated on delivering a “dedicated, assured and mature” drive to lastly convert his potential right into a prime three end result. “Finland poses much less of a menace than Greece when it comes to terrain,” he defined. “You’ll be able to shift from preserving the automotive to focusing purely on tempo, and that’s precisely what we’re aiming to do.”
Good is especially assured in Finland, the place his pure driving fashion, formed by a background in motocross, usually shines. It’s an expertise he believes provides him a singular edge in Finland. “It’s such a particular occasion due to the variety of jumps,” he stated. “I keep in mind final yr, I simply instinctively knew tips on how to deal with the automotive within the air, and that undoubtedly gave me an edge in comparison with the remainder of the sector.”
This will likely be Good’s second time tackling Rally Finland, and that familiarity is one other benefit on the younger South African’s facet. “Having completed the occasion final yr undoubtedly provides us a lift,” he added. “We’ve reviewed all of the onboards, checked out what labored and what didn’t, and refined our tempo notes. That ought to assist us push tougher and purpose for a robust end result.”
