Preview: Jari and Antti return to Wales in positive spirits

Fresh from a fantastic podium in the ERC round of Rally Poland, our HMDP crew Jari and Antti heads to Wales Rally GB in buoyant mood.

Participating in their sixth WRC2 event of the 2018 season, the Finns will be looking to emulate the sort of performance that they showed in Poland, and earlier this year on home ground in Finland.

Jari and Antti are no strangers to the Welsh stages, as they took on the event one year ago as a warm-up for their 2018 HMDP season. They will be looking for a bit more luck as they aim to challenge the established crews this time out.

Rise to the occasion

“Our goal is to put all our learning into practice, and to register stage times on par with the front-runners,” said Jari. “We didn’t have much fortune in Wales last year, retiring after just four stages. We have a lot more experience now, and I am feeling confident.”

Their impressive performance in Poland will give the crew a great morale boost as they tackle the 23-stage Wales Rally GB itinerary. “Finishing second in the recent ERC round will give them great motivation for Wales Rally GB, a familiar rally to them,” commented our Team Principal Michel.

A year in the life

Thursday’s super special at Tir Prince will get the rally underway. With new and revised stage layouts, and the typically unpredictable British weather likely to play its part, it promises to be another valuable weekend for the HMDP pair.

Michel added: “They have been put through their paces in a range of rally conditions, but shown a professional approach at all times. Wales Rally GB will be a good benchmark event to show just how far they’ve come.”