Rally legend Kankkunen in for Finland

The veteran, who has been out of a World Rally Championship drive since being dropped by Subaru at the end of 2000, will drive a latest-specification Accent on the event. Hyundai's rally partner Motor Sport Developments will run his car alongside its two regular drivers, Alister McRae and Kenneth Eriksson.

Kankkunen said: "I'm delighted to be driving for Hyundai at my home event. The Accent will be a new challenge for me, but hopefully we'll be able to fight for a strong result."

The 42-year old has a good record on one of the championship's most specialised rallies - he's won the Rally Finland three times, and finished on the podium on a further four occasions.

Kankkunen will get his first taste of the Accent at Hyundai's scheduled pre-event test near Helsinki next week.

Kankkunen will not be the only Finnish legend to return to the stages on home turf. Markku Alen will use a privately-run Ford Focus WRC, and Timo Salonen continues to be linked to a Grifone Peugeot 206 WRC, providing budget can be sourced.