The special feature of the SM Auto Sorsa Riihimäki Rally – two rallies in one

The rules and schedule for the Finnish Rally Championship Auto Sorsa Riihimäki Rally have been published, and registration for the rally is now open. The special feature of the last Finnish Rally Championship of the winter season is that the rally offers the opportunity to drive the full route of six or, alternatively, nine special stages cost-effectively.

The Finnish Motorsport Championship (SM) Sorsa Riihimäki Rally offers every rally driver the opportunity to compete in the excellent winter rallies of Kanta–Häme. In addition to the Finnish Motorsport Championship (SM) classes, competition classes are available for two- and four-wheel drive cars of practically all age groups.

The special feature of the rally is that competitors in national classes have the opportunity to drive a six-special stage route at a lower cost instead of the nine-special stage route of the Finnish Championship classes. These classes also offer the opportunity to empty the garage and use the old studded tires in the competition. In addition, the rally organizers have built a separate invited guest class for their rally-minded partners.

"We structured our rally so that there should be classes for everyone, including the shortened competition. In the shortened competition format, the entry fee and costs are significantly cheaper. The shortened route starts from the second special stage of the rally and competitors miss three special stages, but there are still 56 special stage km to drive, with the total length of the route being just over 100 km," says course manager Riku Bitter.

"The maintenance requirements for the shortened competition have also been reduced and we also accept two- and four-wheel drive cars that comply with the national rally rules of different countries for our rally. In the simplified competition format, we will return to traditional roadside maintenance. In additional classes, you can also drive with outdated studded wheels. We wanted to build a significantly more affordable alternative to competing in the Auto Sorsa Riihimäki Rally," emphasizes route director Juha Salmi.

The rally's central location is the car sales and repair company Auto Sorsa Oy, located on Tehtaankatu in Riihimäki, which houses the competition and press center and the rally finish in the yard. The Finnish Championship rally's central service area is located opposite Auto Sorsa in the yard of HF-Autohuolto, where competitors stop twice during the day.

The start of the race will be on Saturday, February 28 at 10:30. The first cars to finish at Auto Sorsa in the shortened race are expected at approximately 17:00, and for the Finnish Championship and other classes at 18:15. The total length of the Finnish Championship rally route is 215 km, of which the nine special stages account for 102 km. The special stages will be run in the areas of the municipalities of Riihimäki, Loppi, Janakkala and Hausjärvi. Each special stage will be run only once. Only special stages 1 and 8 contain 3,5 km of the same road section.

"The route includes traditional Kantahämä rally roads, but there is also one new section of road on the route that has not been driven in a rally before. And that is quite a rare occurrence in this area. Sections that have not been driven in a rally for decades will also return to the route," the track masters reveal.

The SM Auto Sorsa Riihimäki Rally (27–28.2 February) is the final event of the Finnish Championship winter season 2026. A total of seven Finnish Championship events will be held in the series.