History 1990s

1999 Rally Finland – 1000 Lakes (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1999 Rally Finland – 1000 Lakes (Finland)

Date: August 20–22, 1999

Start Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Finish Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Total Distance: ~1,365 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 344.68 km

Surface: Gravel

Rally Finland, famed for its extreme speeds and airborne crests, lived up to its legendary status in 1999. Tommi Mäkinen delivered a spectacular and surgical drive through his home stages, using every ounce of experience and car control to beat a stacked field. His Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI flew through the forests with perfect balance and aggression, giving Mäkinen another vital win in his championship campaign.

Route

Ouninpohja: The most iconic stage in WRC, combining relentless crests with sweeping corners that test bravery and balance.
Lankamaa: High-speed curves with fast transitions requiring perfect throttle control and corner memory.
Ruuhimäki: Short, fast stage with spectacular final jumps and a fan-favorite finish.

Set in the dense Finnish forests, the rally featured long straights, rhythm-based corners, and hundreds of jumps. Key stages included:

Finland’s smooth gravel and fast flow allowed cars to reach some of the highest average speeds in rallying — but also punished hesitation or errors with immediate time loss or off-road consequences.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Tommi Mäkinen & Risto Mannisenmäki · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Repo · Subaru Impreza WRC99
3rd Place
Freddy Loix & Sven Smeets · Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo VI

Mäkinen’s commitment and pace were unmatched, with Kankkunen delivering a nostalgic home podium, while Loix impressed with his control and speed in one of the most demanding rallies of the season.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Jump Accuracy: Misjudging a crest could destroy rhythm or cause suspension damage — co-driver precision was everything.
  • Pace Commitment: Finland punished braking and lift-offs — corners had to be attacked blind and flat.
  • High Average Speeds: Maintaining consistent control at over 120 km/h across forests required total confidence and rhythm.

The 1999 Rally Finland was a celebration of speed, courage, and control — and Tommi Mäkinen’s victory further cemented his reputation as one of the greatest gravel drivers of all time.

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