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While Rally Estonia and Rally Finland are often perceived as quite similar events, former World Champion Thierry Neuville has highlighted some distinct differences between the two.
"There are many similarities between Estonia and Finland, but for me, the biggest difference is the surface. In Estonia, it's softer with more loose gravel, whereas in Finland, the grip is much higher, sometimes feeling almost like driving on asphalt," Neuville explained.
The legendary gravel roads of Central Finland also present a unique challenge for drivers.
Hyundai gathered valuable data on Estonia's fast gravel stages, and according to Neuville, there's still more performance to extract from the car ahead of the Jyväskylä event.
Neuville also acknowledged that many of his rivals possess an intimate knowledge of the roads in Central Finland. This familiarity with the stages can provide a significant advantage on the high-speed gravel sections.
However, the Belgian's objective is clear: he aims to be in contention for victory from the very start of the rally.
"Our goal is the same as in Estonia: to fight for the win, to be in the battle from the first stage, to avoid problems, and to have a perfect weekend," Neuville stated.
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