Rovaniemi opens Arctic Lapland Rally on Friday

The two-day Arctic Lapland Rally 2019 will be held in Rovaniemi on January 25-26.

Organised by Rovaniemen Urheiluautoilijat ry, 108 competitor couples (drivers and co-drivers) from across the globe are taking part this year in the championship, locally known as the Fells Rally, said the organisers.

All preparations to hold the world’s sole event of its kind that uses only ice-and snow-covered roads have been completed to ensure a hitch-less rally.

“Our preparations has gone well and we are waiting very anxiously to this weekend and who is going to win this years legendary rally for sure!,” Marjut Haiko from the press wing of the event told Daily Finland.

The competitors from 12 different countries- Finland, Sweden, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, Saudi-Arabia, Austria, Philippines, France, Italy, Australia and Portugal- are taking part in the rally this year.

The opening date for reconnaissance will continue from January 24 and the main rally will start on January 25 at 12:00 O’clock from Lordi’s square in Rovaniemi city centre and wrap up on January 26 at 6.50pm at the same place, said the sources.

“This years big thing is how many R5 rally cars we have participating and of course Valtteri Bottas debut to the rally,” Marjut Haiko added.

Rovaniemen Urheiluautoilijat ry has been hosting the event since 1966 on Rovaniemi’s wild terrains, and this year will be its 54^th edition, that explains it being regarded as a tradition.

The Arctic Lapland Rally has already consolidated a prominent position in Europe because of the magical and unique atmosphere of the Arctic Circle, loved by both the drivers and spectators.

The event’s huge popularity and attraction to the visitors are reflected in the city’s street scenes, where they bring excitement and a buzz in the dark, late-January days. Every year, the rally attracts a large host of the sport’s aficionados as well as top motorsports from around the world.

The rally will be held in different categories – International Classes, National Classes, Group F, Vakio 1600, WRC, Historic classes, two- and four-wheel drive for seniors over 50 years and legends over 60 years, juniors, foreign drivers, etc.

The price of a rally pass has been set at EUR 30, which includes entrance to every special stage, route map and itinerary, rally magazine, while a ticket to the special stages has been set at EUR 10.

Children under 12 years, however, will have free entrance in company of their parents.