The event will make history, as the SM Länsirannikon Ralli will also serve as the third round of the Estonian Rally Championship. This is the first joint venture between the Finnish and Estonian motorsport federations, with hopes for future collaborations.
The Finnish Motorsport Federation AKK and the Estonian Automobile Sports Association (EAL) started discussions last autumn about the possibility of one of the Estonian Rally Championship events take place in Finland alongside a Finnish Rally Championship event. The topic had been discussed between the federations for a long time, but it was only last autumn’s negotiations that led to concrete action.
“This issue has been talked about more or less for almost ten years, it’s great that it is finally happening. In general, it is important that the federations of different countries, especially the neighbors, cooperate, this way we can be stronger together,” emphasises Kuldar Sikk, Sports Director of the EAL.
Henrik Frank, AKK’s Sporting Executive, is also enthusiastic and pleased that the joint event is happening.
“The topic has been discussed semi-seriously now and then, but perhaps things have moved forward more concretely over the past year. Last summer, we had very fruitful discussions with our Estonian colleagues, and it certainly helped that they showed interest in coming to compete in Finland. I see a lot of potential for further development of this cooperation,” Frank explains.
The SM Länsirannikon Ralli will feature SM points as usual in classes 1-5, as well as Suomi Cup points in class 6. The Estonian EMV points will be contested in classes 8-15.
From the Estonian championship side, the most familiar driver to the rally audience is Urmo Aava, competing in EMV5 class with a Subaru Impreza. Aava was a regular face at the WRC from the early 2000s until 2009. Currently, working in a leading role within Estonia’s WRC and ERC organisation, Aava competes infrequently and mainly in his home country.
Finnish driver Roope Korhonen enters the competition leading the SM1 class after the winter season. Benjamin Korhola will start the first gravel event of the season in second place in the class.
The SM Länsirannikon Ralli begins on Friday evening with two special stages. On Saturday, six more special stages will be run.
