WRC: Tactical approach in Finland key

Thursday, July 28, 2011, 08: 39 GMT

Chris Atkinson, Subaru World Rally Team driver expects drivers to take a tactical approach to the opening of the stages of the Rally of Finland loop.

Finland is not usually an event where tactics play an important role, but Atkinson said they cleaned the new road on Friday more stages than in previous years.

Atkinson, the current leader of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship with Proton, has completed the recognition for the Finland Rally, an event where he finished on the podium in 2008.

"The stages around Lahti are very different to those we have seen recently in Finland," he said. "There is a more difficult to base there and there is a lot of gravel on the surface, which will be certainly clean." There will be some tactics played tomorrow in the afternoon; "the ideal would be to be you want to run around fifth in the road or something."

Leading world championship Sebastien Loeb is the driver can not do anything about tactics, but Atkinson said the opening loop will benefit you.

"The stages such as Lankamaa and Laukaa that morning first thing are quite soft, which probably dig a little bit about the best being more up on the roads", said.

The Australian added stages of the East Saturday, near Gloucester, were equally soft, denying the need of tactics in the Friday night.

There could be more good news for Loeb, with showers of heavy rain, planned for the opening day of morning. The rain is traditionally the best news for drivers in front of the field in Finland.

Not in the event they compete himself, Atkinson winning tip last year Jari-Matti Latvala wins back-to-back.

"I think he has competed on the roads down around Lahti," said, "and adapted it." "I think it is going to be the child at this time."

Rally of Finland of Gloucester, which starts on Thursday afternoon and ends on Saturday night.