Watch WRC Rally Finland — Shakedown Free.

What's at Stake

The Shakedown for Rally Finland serves as the crucial final opportunity for teams to fine-tune their high-speed gravel setups before tackling the legendary, roller-coaster stages of Jyväskylä. With the World Rally Championship title race reaching its critical summer phase, finding the perfect balance on these notoriously fast jumps is essential to building immediate confidence. A strong showing here allows drivers to establish their rhythm and make vital mechanical adjustments before the competitive action begins against the clock.

Form Guide

Heading into the fastest event on the WRC calendar, the momentum is split between the championship frontrunners who must manage road-sweeping duties and the high-speed specialists who thrive on smooth, flowing gravel. Recent rounds have showcased intense battles where fractions of a second decide the podium, making preparation on simulated Finnish terrain highly competitive. Teams have spent weeks optimizing aerodynamics and suspension dampening specifically to handle the massive compressions and airborne landings characteristic of this event.

Key Players to Watch

• Kalle Rovanperä — The local hero and reigning champion who always carries immense speed on his home roads and looks to set the benchmark pace during the warm-up.
• Ott Tänak — A multiple-time winner of Rally Finland known for his fearless commitment and ability to extract maximum performance on ultra-fast gravel tracks.
• Elfyn Evans — A previous winner in Jyväskylä who excels in high-speed, high-precision rallies and will be focused on perfecting his car setup during Shakedown.

Prediction

Expect the local specialists and high-speed experts to dominate the timesheets during this warm-up session as they push the limits of their setups. Toyota's drivers are predicted to edge out the competition on the Shakedown leaderboard, utilizing their extensive testing data to master the initial runs. This early pace will set a benchmark, establishing them as the favorites heading into the opening super special stage.