History 1990s

1997 Rally Finland – 1000 Lakes (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1997 Rally Finland – 1000 Lakes (Finland)

Date: August 22–24, 1997

Start Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Finish Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Total Distance: 379.00 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1997 Rally Finland, also known as the 1000 Lakes Rally, was once again the fastest round on the WRC calendar. Featuring a network of undulating forest roads and notorious blind jumps, the event rewarded local knowledge and bravery at full throttle. Tommi Mäkinen, cheered on by the home crowd, executed a flawless run in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV to take a dominant win on home soil.

Route

Ouninpohja: The most legendary stage in rallying — blisteringly fast with dozens of jumps and flat-out corners over crests.
Lankamaa: A technical rhythm stage with varying corner types and high average speeds.
Ruuhimäki: Short but intense, packed with high-speed turns and airborne moments that made car setup critical.

Set deep in central Finland’s lake region, the rally’s iconic stages included:

The narrow but smooth roads required split-second timing, supreme car balance, and a fearless approach to staying flat over blind crests.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Tommi Mäkinen & Seppo Harjanne · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Repo · Ford Escort WRC
3rd Place
Colin McRae & Nicky Grist · Subaru Impreza WRC97

Mäkinen’s local experience and full-attack style proved unstoppable, as he outpaced rivals with precision driving through Finland’s relentless terrain.

Navigation & Challenges

  • High-Speed Jumps: Dozens of crests meant co-driver timing had to be flawless — one wrong call could lead to disaster.
  • Pace Over Commitment: Maintaining speed without losing control over blind rises tested driver nerve and car balance.
  • Minimal Margins: Victory often comes down to tenths of a second in Finland, meaning every apex had to be perfect.

The 1997 Rally Finland confirmed Mäkinen’s dominance on home gravel, and the Lancer Evo IV’s ability to handle the most demanding high-speed roads in the WRC.

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