Elfyn Evans brings WRC speeds to the Arctic Circle – The Finnish top talents fight for victory
In a fortnight’s time, from 29–31 January, the 61st Arctic Lapland Rally will once again unfurl across Rovaniemi and its surrounding municipalities. Revered as the crown jewel of the Finnish Rally Championship, this two-day winter epic continues to command international esteem, drawing not only Finland’s finest but also a distinguished assembly of overseas contenders and intrepid privateers.
This year, 82 crews will take the start, with fully one third representing foreign nations — a statistic that only reinforces the Arctic Lapland Rally’s standing as a globally recognised and deeply respected competition.
Adding unmistakable World Rally Championship lustre is Great Britain’s Elfyn Evans, who arrives at the helm of the formidable Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Piloting the most potent machinery in the field, Evans will use the arctic encounter as a vital opportunity to refine set-up and sharpen instincts ahead of the Rally Sweden WRC round just two weeks later. Competing in Class 7, Evans is, on equipment alone, the pre-event favourite for outright honours.
Domestic supremacy will be contested in the premier SM1 category, reserved for Rally2 machinery, where no fewer than 24 crews have registered their intent. Leading the Škoda charge is Esapekka Lappi — fresh from victory in Mikkeli, armed with extensive WRC pedigree, and a driver who has already sampled Rally1 power this season. Lappi’s presence lends the entry list a decidedly heavyweight air.
Yet the road to victory will be anything but untroubled. The defending Arctic Lapland Rally winner, Tuukka Kauppinen, launches his season on home snow at the helm of his Toyota, intent on making a resolute stand. Alongside him in the Rautio Motorsport ranks is Roope Korhonen, a class winner at Rally Finland, likewise seeking competitive mileage ahead of Rally Sweden.
Toyota’s colours will also be flown proudly by a pair of Estonian contenders. Jaspar Vaher, a graduate of Toyota’s young driver development programme who caught the eye with early pace in Mikkeli, arrives eager to convert promise into results. He will be pressed closely by compatriot Patrick Enok, last year’s SM2 champion, keen to assert national bragging rights.
Škoda’s assault is further bolstered by two proven Finnish internationals. Mikko Heikkilä, a WRC2 front-runner last season and winner of the SM1 class in Rovaniemi in 2024, opens his campaign north of the Arctic Circle in a Fabia RS Rally2. Lauri Joona, who also contested WRC2 in 2025 and finished second in Mikkeli, seeks success in Lapland aboard his striking blue-and-orange Škoda. Meanwhile, Niclas Grönholm, now fully committed to rallying, enters the fray with championship points firmly in mind.
In total, nine nationalities are represented in SM1 alone. Particularly noteworthy are Toyota’s next-generation Japanese protégés Shotaro Goto and Takumi Matsushita, as well as Italy’s Giovanni Trentin, who has already hinted at his potential on Finnish soil.
In SM2, the Japanese duo Rio Ogata and Kanta Yanagida — dominant in Mikkeli with a one-two finish — return to the stage, though Pekka Keski-Korsu stands ready to challenge for victory. Local expertise is embodied by Tornio Automobile Club’s Miikka Vuokila, a two-time Arctic Lapland Rally class winner (2022 and 2025), whose familiarity with these demanding roads may yet prove decisive.
The SM3 category sees season-opening victor Vili Hakala again face Roope Hirvonen, who finished second in Mikkeli. Verneri Aallontie, fourth last time out, aims to strengthen his championship credentials, as does last year’s SM4 champion Lauri Halonen, who seeks redemption following an early retirement in the opening round.
SM4 boasts the full top five from Mikkeli: Aaron Holopainen, Miska Tuomisto, Mauri Ampuja, Rasmus Pentti, and Nuutti Korhonen — a tightly matched group certain to provide spirited competition.
Proceedings begin on Thursday 29 January at 13:00 with the shakedown stage, followed by the ceremonial start at Lordi’s Square at 19:00. Competitive action commences on Friday 30 January at 10:53 with Aittajärvi 1. Over two days, competitors will tackle 12 special stages covering 221.85 kilometres, all played out in the stark, majestic wilderness above the Arctic Circle. The rally concludes back at Lordi’s Square on Saturday 31 January from 18:18 onwards.
For the 2026 season, live coverage of the Finnish Rally Championship will be broadcast via FlyingFinn.tv. Results, GPS tracking, split times and comprehensive event coverage are available at rallism.fi. Highlights programmes will air on the following Sunday on Yle TV2 and Yle Areena.
Photo: Toyota GAZOO Racing
