As rally fans, we live in hope. I suppose there was
never really any doubt who and what would win Rally Finland. For sure, the
Citroen team ran them close, the latest Ford is showing huge potential and
Hyundai is showing flashes of brilliance. But there is just no denying that the
Volkswagen squad is a bratwurst amongst burgers.
This dominance is not just the result of big bucks. It's built on sound
engineering and experience dating back to their Dakar exploits over 10 years
ago now. Remember, they also had staff 'embedded' in the Skoda works ERC team (we
saw them on Rally Scotland) and ran their own Skoda ahead of the commencement
of their formal WRC campaign in 2013.
As for drivers, they certainly have the pick of the bunch. Direct
comparisons can never be made and the only way that could happen is if they all
competed in the same cars! But the Polo WRC and the back-up behind it will give
any driver a confidence boost long before he grips the steering wheel.
It was perhaps fitting that Jari-Matti Latvala won his 'home' event,
and he did it in style. This was only his second victory of the year and his third
Rally Finland win. It was also the fastest gravel rally ever in Finland recording
an average speed of 125.44 km/h (77.94 mph) across the full duration of the
rally. He also won the fastest asphalt rally of all time in France in 2014.
On his way to victory, Latvala clocked the fastest average speed of
132.18 km/h (82.13 mph) over the notorious 'Ouninpohja' stage while team mate Sébastien
Ogier won the 'Myhinpää' Power Stage with an average of 135.25 km/h (84.04 mph).
To mere mortals like us these are just numbers, but these are autobahn
speeds on gravel roads with open ditches on either side and vertical wooden
'armco' lining most of it. It's no wonder that time is measured in hundredths
of a second, but when things go wrong they happen faster than the curry-night-out
trots. Just ask Andreas Mikkelsen. He suffered a multiple high speed roll on
the fifth test, and walked away.
Which also makes the impending return of Toyota to the WRC such a hot
prospect. They're spending a lot of time and energy away from the glare of
public curiosity to perfect their next challenger.
Anyway, the next round of the WRC is Rally Germany in three weeks time,
but before then, there is the 'usedcarparts.co.uk Solway Coast Rally' this
coming weekend. But you know what? I don't think any of the WRC teams could
cope with the physical and mental demands or have the mechanical stamina to cope
with 'the Dundrennan'. Even if they did, there is one challenge which would
defeat them all, the Saturday night bunfight.
