[WRC] Neste Rally Finland 1st-4th August 2019

**EstWRC** · 17th June 2019, 19:50

Originally Posted by wrc2017

Tanak didnt walk it last year with Ostberg in C3, so he is not a sure bet.

https://www.ewrc-results.com/leg/442...nd-2018/?leg=2

**wrc2017** · 17th June 2019, 20:01

5s after Day 1 is close enough for me... didnt say he wasnt favorite.

**Tauri_J** · 17th June 2019, 20:12

Originally Posted by wrc2017

5s after Day 1 is close enough for me... didnt say he wasnt favorite.

Look where Ostberg started

**mknight** · 17th June 2019, 20:48

Originally Posted by steve.mandzij

Meeke won it from last on the road that year because he was on a part time program, and Jari Matti was no match for him because of that. The cleaning isn't so much of an issue in Finland but that year it made that small difference.

The biggest difference in 2016 was that the starting order was given by championship standings both on Friday and Saturday. So two days instead of one and often more than twice as many kms. Hence it's a bit hard to use that year as reference on any gravel rally.

**Rallyper** · 17th June 2019, 21:12

I´m not counting Huyndai for anything but 4-8 places.

Ogier, well, might end up top three. No win...

So, Tanak, win and JML 2nd and Meeke in top 5...

What you´d say?

**wrc2017** · 17th June 2019, 21:16

Originally Posted by Tauri_J

Look where Ostberg started

true..

**wrc2017** · 17th June 2019, 21:25

Originally Posted by Rallyper

I´m not counting Huyndai for anything but 4-8 places.

Ogier, well, might end up top three. No win...

So, Tanak, win and JML 2nd and Meeke in top 5...

What you´d say?

Id like to see
Meeke
Tanak
Latvala

But it think

Tanak
Lappi
Meeke
Latvala
Suninen

**steve.mandzij** · 17th June 2019, 23:55

Suninen is always quick on Fridays and I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the podium at least after Friday morning. Then, we'll see if he crashes or not, but he's surely a contender for perhaps a win.

**EstWRC** · 18th June 2019, 06:26

For me, it should definitely be a Toyota 1-2-3. eh, this rhymed!

All three drivers are Rally Finland winners, the car is made on those roads and the team really needs and deserves a good result after all the problems this season. Its a good opportunity for them to close the gap to Hyundai because that car is just horrible in Finland. I doubt the upgrades will make miracles but you never know.

But you know, years are different, in 2017 we had Lappi winning and Hänninen being third and Suninen fourth. Last year all the finns kind of struggled and werent so dominant. Suninen is in good form recently and is a podium contender for sure, maybe even for win, he is the dark horse for me. Lappi did well in sweden and maybe he can surprise?

Championship wise this is a good chance for Tänak to make the gap bigger with Ogier and Neuville. Their record is quite "awful" in Finland for THEIR standards. Ogier crashed in 2017 and was only 5th last year, Neuville was 6th in 17' and only 9th in 18'.

**AnttiL** · 18th June 2019, 06:30

Lappi will be fast in Finland considering Østberg's pace last year, but last year already he had a "C3-style" off on the last day. Well, same with Suninen, nice to see that he's back to his 2017 stage winning pace and will be that for sure in Finland, but will he keep it between the ditches? The only one I can count on being fast and reliable is Tänak, but it requires that the car doesn't develop a surprising issue like it has lately done.