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Latvala Leads 55-Car Entry as EHRC Gravel Battle Heads to Lahti Historic Rally
Jari-Matti Latvala leads a 55-car field into the Lahti Historic Rally as the inaugural FIA EHRC Gravel Championship reaches its midway point on Finnish gravel.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-18T13:30:00.000Z - 2 min read
The inaugural FIA European Historic Rally Championship Gravel Championship reaches its midpoint this week, heading north to Finland for round three at the Lahti Historic Rally. Following demanding opening encounters across the gravel stages of Portugal and Greece, the five-round series moves to one of rallying's traditional heartlands for two days of high-speed competition.
A strong 55-car entry has assembled for the Finnish round, drawing historic rally specialists from more than ten nations alongside a formidable group of local drivers. Former World Rally Championship driver and current Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala leads the entry, returning to home roads behind the wheel of his Toyota Celica ST185 as one of the pre-event favourites.
Latvala faces stiff competition from a deep Finnish contingent well versed in the characteristics of their home gravel. Defending Lahti Historic Rally winner Marko Uutela returns to the event, joined by experienced local competitors including Juuso Metsälä and Kari Kivenne, establishing a tough domestic benchmark for the travelling European contenders.
The rally schedule commences on Friday morning, 21 August, from Lahti Harbour, with crews returning to the same location on Saturday afternoon, 22 August, to conclude the event. The itinerary features 14 special stages mapped out across the region's renowned high-speed roads, testing both machinery and crews across technical gravel sections.
Two brand-new tests have been added to the route this year inside the historic Hennala barracks area. Running at 1.5 kilometres in length, the compact stage will be tackled on Friday evening and again on Saturday, offering spectators the chance to view the cars close to the city centre rather than travelling out into the forest stages.
The championship standings remain tightly poised entering the third round. Belgium's Christophe Jacob leads the title chase on 55 points, holding an 11-point buffer over San Marino's Nemo Mazza on 44 points. Latvala holds third place on 34 points, tied level with Austrian competitor Kris Rosenberger and Czech driver Oldřich Kovařík Jr.
With only two rounds left on the calendar after this weekend and the next event in Sweden scheduled just one week later, the Lahti Historic Rally represents a key juncture in the inaugural gravel series. The battle for podium positions and championship points over Finland's fast roads will shape the title fight before the field heads across Scandinavia.