The FIA EHRC moves to the loose-surface classic of Lahti Historic Rally this week, where high-speed gravel roads weave through the pine forests of the Päijät-Häme region. Renowned for its flowing corners, blind crests and jumps, Lahti is a driver’s rally in the purest sense. On gravel, crews must balance commitment with precision, constantly adapting to changes in surface grip. With mixed conditions forecast, tyre choice and set-up could prove decisive at this iconic Finnish event.

Flying Finns Latvala and Hussi will lead the EHRC field away in Lahti in their iconic Toyota Celica ST185. After a mixed season of two early wins followed by two mechanical retirements, they sit third in the overall standings. Fresh from finishing second in WRC2 at Rally Finland earlier this month in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, the pair now switch back to their Celica with eyes firmly on maximum points.

In Category 4, Swedish pairing Tobias Johansson and Jenny Strandberg bring their Audi Quattro A2 to challenge as fellow Nordic favourites. They’ll be joined by Flexifly Rally Team’s Will Graham in a BMW E30 M3, and Australians Steuart Snooks and Cody Richards, both in Ford Escort RS1800s, each hoping their gravel prowess can upset the Toyota crew.

Category 3 promises another fierce contest. Legendary Italian showman Paolo Diana lines up against Northern Irish ace Adrian Hetherington, both in Fiat 131 Abarths. Challenging them will be local drivers Janne Lindberg in a Volvo 244, Marko Uutela in an Opel Ascona 400, and Arto Rekola in a Ford Escort RS, all eager to use their home-field advantage to deliver a win on familiar roads.  German husband and wife team Siegfried and Renate Mayr bring their venerable Volvo 240 as part of their FIA EHRC campaign.  ‘Siggi’ is a long time competitor in Finland.  That experience and the strength of the Volvo on gravel will be a strong contender for Category 3 podium positions this year.

Category 2 and drivers’ championship leader Maciej Lubiak will look to defend his advantage in the standings this weekend, hoping to pilot his Porsche 911 2.7 RS to yet another podium. The Pole will be aiming for a strong score to keep Graham and Latvala at bay. Returning English ace Seb Perez, usually seen in his Lancia Stratos HF, switches to a Porsche 911 Carrera RS this weekend, with Dale Bowen alongside. Perez recently used the car to great effect by winning the British Historic Rally Championship in 2024, so he will arrive in Finland confident of a strong result. Finnish entrant Lauri Lajunen will add variety to the category with his Triumph TR7, with all entrants hoping the balance offered by their cars’ rear-wheel-drive systems will pay dividends on gravel.

In Category 1, locals Pekka Anttalainen and Antti Hietaniemi head the field in their Skoda Octavia Super. Though the sole entrants in the class, they will target a strong overall performance thanks to decades of experience in rallying on these roads

In the 2B class, Flexifly Rally Team boss Ernie Graham is back in his Ford Escort 1600 BDA alongside Karen Graham and will be hoping to replicate their Rally Weiz heroics and secure another class victory. French pairing Bertrand Metivier and Fabrice Garin bring their Ford Escort RS1600 to the fight, hoping their RS package will give them an edge in the fight for 2B honours. Bertrand will be keen to keep an eye on the performance of Maciej Lubiak as he continues a strong season in Category 2, scoring consistent points this season.

With cars from the 1993-2000 period also eligible to contest FIA EHRC events in 2025, a sole entry has been made from Dutch crew Arnold van der Smeede and Patricia Berk in Lahti.  They will bring their Ford Escort RS Cosworth to Finland for the first time.  Arnold is using the 2025 season as a chance to get more testing kilometres under his belt in the iconic Group N specification Ford ahead of the 2026 season.

With a packed entry, a strong Finnish presence, and the challenge of fast gravel stages under changeable skies, Lahti Historic Rally is set to deliver a spectacular mid-season showdown in the FIA European Historic Rally Championship.