Neste Oil Corporation
Press Release
19 June 2014 at 10.30 a.m. (EET)

The track of the Neste Oil Rally Helsinki Battle has been announced
- a chance for the public to see the WRC cars up close

Neste Oil brings a taste of genuine WRC pace to Helsinki on the last weekend of July. This high-octane family event is one of Helsinki's biggest summer events for everybody to enjoy. The track was announced yesterday, and its tight corners and fast straights offer plenty of excitement.

Involved with the Finnish WRC rally event, Neste Oil Rally Finland, since 1994, Neste Oil brings an impressive line-up of rally veterans and today's stars to face each other on the track on the Hietalahti shore. The course plan for the Neste Oil Rally Helsinki Battle has now been finalized and it promises fast straights and tight cornering.

The starting line is in front of the Neste Oil Helsinki Hietalahti service station, from where the cars roar towards Hietalahti market square. Before the second turning point at Merimakasiini, there is a tricky 360-degree complete turnabout.

Four-times world champion and rally legend Tommi Mäkinen has studied the plan carefully. He believes that the key sections are the turning points and the roundabout, where the cars have to perform a 360-degree turn. With 19 WRC rally wins behind him, Markku Alén believes that even a short track is sufficient for a great race.

- Every time you drive against the clock, the pace picks up. You always give it your all, Alén says. Together with Alén and Mäkinen, many times world champions Marcus Grönholm and Juha Kankkunen will also be donning their driving suits.

These rally legends face a tough challenge from today's star drivers. Finland's number one drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen will be joined by the whole of this WRC championship season's leading group, including the clear leader Sébastien Ogier from France.

A free event for the entire family

The Neste Oil Rally Helsinki Battle takes place on Saturday 26 July. Over 20,000 spectators are expected, which makes it one of the most popular free events in Helsinki this summer. The audience gets to follow the rally right from the edges of the track, with concrete safety guards ensuring their safety. There is also a family stand where the little ones can see the track area and its events better.

All drivers will be competing in WRC cars that are familiar from the championship, and members of public can get up close and personal with the cars in the service area in Hietalahti market square.

The media accreditation has started. Please fill in the accreditation formula in the official Neste Oil Rally Helsinki Battle web page.

Additional information:
Sirpa Tuomi, Marketing Director, Neste Oil tel. +358 (0)10 458 8335

Additional information for the press:
Petra Olamo, Press Officer, Neste Oil Rally Helsinki Battle
tel: 358 40 550 8117, petra.olamo@superson.fi

Neste Oil in brief
Neste Oil has been the title sponsor of Finland's WRC event, Neste Oil Rally, for 20 years. This period has seen many advances in both motoring and fuels. Likewise, motoring safety has developed in leaps and bounds, and modern engine technology consumes much smaller quantities of fuel than in the past. Some 20 years ago Neste Oil was one of the first oil refining companies to launch sulphur-free fuels on the market, and today Neste Oil is the largest producer of renewable diesel.  We have also developed Neste Pro Diesel, a top-grade product that is the world's only diesel fuel complying with the strictest WWFC category 5 fuel specification recommended by automotive manufacturers. Through the years we have worked hard to develop cleaner traffic fuels. The only way is forward.

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