History 2000s

2006 Neste Oil Rally Finland (Finland)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2006 Neste Oil Rally Finland (Finland)

Date: August 18–20, 2006

Start Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Finish Location: Jyväskylä, Finland

Total Distance: ~1,272.00 km

Competitive Stages: 351.00 km

Surface: Gravel (fast, flowing, and jump-filled)

Few rallies ignite passion like Finland does for Marcus Grönholm, and in 2006 he delivered another masterclass on home soil. Flat-out from start to finish, he and the Ford Focus RS WRC 06 were untouchable on the flowing, cambered roads of the Finnish forests.

Route

Ouninpohja: The rally’s signature stage, combining massive jumps with high-speed technical sections — a true bravery test.

Jukojärvi: Smooth and flowing with relentless pace, rewarding perfect pacenotes and maximum commitment.

Lankamaa: A mix of flat-out straights and tight junctions, requiring sharp changes in rhythm.

Rally Finland is famous for its blind crests, big jumps, and sweeping corners taken at incredible speed. Notable stages included:

The event’s natural camber allowed drivers to ‘lean’ into corners, carrying immense speed, but mistakes at these velocities were often race-ending.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Ford Focus RS WRC 06

2nd Place

Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen · Ford Focus RS WRC 06

3rd Place

Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën Xsara WRC – Kronos Racing

Grönholm’s win was emphatic, leading a Ford 1–2 at home. Hirvonen impressed with his pace on familiar ground, while Loeb salvaged strong points despite struggling to match the Fords’ top speed.

Navigation & Challenges

Jump Control: Accurate speed on takeoff was crucial to land smoothly and maintain momentum.
High-Speed Pacenotes: Co-drivers had to deliver information at blistering pace without hesitation.
Precision Driving: The cambered roads allowed huge speed if the line was perfect — miss it, and understeer into loose gravel could be catastrophic.

Grönholm’s sixth Rally Finland victory was a statement of intent in his title battle with Loeb, delighting thousands of home fans lining the stages.

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