Local stars return for Rally Finland

The Jyvaskyla-based event is a round of both the support series and traditionally garners one of the strongest Group N entries anywhere - and this year is no exception.

Former Intercontinental Rally Challenge star Anton Alen drives a Ford Fiesta S2000, the same choice of car as his countryman Toni Gardemeister, who rejoins the WRC for the first time in 18 months. There is also a brace of Skoda Fabia S2000s for IRC leader Juho Hanninen and Matti Rantanen, who finished seventh overall in a Ford Focus RS WRC in 2008.

Another significant entry for the July 30/31 event will be Jarkko Nikara, who was comfortably the fastest of last year's Pirelli Star Drivers and is regularly turning heads with some startling performances in a Renault Twingo in this year's British series.

The above will join SWRC regulars Martin Prokop and Nasser Al-Attiyah, both of whom will drive Fords, but all eyes in this round are likely to be on local heroes Janne Tuohino and Jari Ketomaa.

Of the conventional Group N cars, Patrik Flodin's Subaru is likely to set the pace, with Juha Salo and Jukka Ketomaki (both in Lancers) pushing him hard for P-WRC honours.