Rally Finland : A double challenge for the Team ORECA
A month and a half after the Rally di Sardegna and for its third participation this season, the Team ORECA will put different arguments forward at the upcoming Rally Finland (July 30th – August 2nd), in the two classes of its programme: WRC2 and WRC3. On one hand, a new crew is about to discover the challenge. While on the other hand will be a duo of local drivers who are already quite familiar with that rally. Actually, Eric Camilli and co-driver Benjamin Veillas, on board of the Ford Fiesta R5, and Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula, on board of the DS3 R3 Max, will aim for different things. Nevertheless those two tandems will still have one mission in common: to cross the finish line and to continue on gaining as much experience as possible.
“After Portugal, we partly met our expectations in Sardinia, as both our crews progressed” ORECA CEO Hugues de Chaunac confides. “Our approach remains the same: we need to keep on building up momentum and garnering experience, again and again. The first two rounds were harsh and tough. A new daunting terrain is again waiting for us in Finland. We are aware that a first entry in this rally is never an easy task. It will be the case for Eric whose objective is clear: to learn. It’s obviously a little bit different for Teemu. He’ll be at home and he’s won this rally before in WRC3. It’s a special event and our mission is to allow him to approach it in the best conditions possible.”
Competing in WRC2, Eric Camilli and Benjamin Veillas have never been on this so fast and so specific Finnish layout. The aim is therefore to best adapt to those tracks – a mix of wide and narrow sections, including many impressive jumps – as quick as possible. “We’ll approach each special one after the other, without leapfrogging any stages” Eric Camilli says. “It will allow us to progressively find our bearings and get comfortable.” The driver from Nice will not be leaping into the unknown though: “Teemu and Sebastian Lindholm have advised me, especially regarding the jumping position, since most of the jumps offer no visibility. Also it’s the team’s third rally. Things have settled in and that allows me to fully focus on my driving. Besides, the roads should be less harsh than in Portugal or Sardinia. And that suits the car better. We’ve got to be clever, not making any mistakes, and not forgetting to drive well” he explains.
As for Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula, this Rally Finland could not have come at a better time since it is following on their WRC3 win in Sardinia and taking place at home for the crew of the Team ORECA. “It’s easier to race at home where we’re just familiar with everything. It’s also really nice to get to drive in front of my public after a successful race in Sardinia” Teemu confirms. Just like last year, when, on that same track, he won in WRC3 though he was only making his debut internationally, Teemu will be supported by his family. “I hope that the experience I acquired last year will help me, but it’s difficult to say how much it will. It’s a very fast rally, with some big jumps which constitute its main difficulties. Since being in Portugal, we’ve garnered much information. We’ve optimized our pacenotes system and I’ve participated in two rallies in Poland and Estonia; those were quite similar to Finland’s. Though there’s still a lot to do, I now can make the best of the car’s speed. I’ll aim for a clean drive and I’ll fight for a win.”
Twenty specials are scheduled for ORECA drivers, amongst which the legendary Ouninpohja, Mökkiperä or Jukojärvi, taking place from Thursday evening to Sunday. Amongst the majestic sites of lakes and forests, there will be 319.38km of timed sections in total.