Press Kit

Welcome to cover the most beautiful winter rally event in the world! We wish you have a fun, safe and creative arctic adventure.

If you have any questions or issues, contact Press Officer Juho Koski, preferably via WhatsApp or email.

Table of Contents

Contacts

Event Press Officer

Juho Koski
+358 50 5574848
media@arcticrally.fi

Finnish Rally Championship Press Officer

Patrick Rupponen
+358 40 683 7983
patrick.rupponen@autourheilu.fi

Event Director

Timo Korkalainen
+358 40 502 4 205
timo.korkalainen@arcticrally.fi

WhatsApp group for media: Join Here

We will use the WhatsApp group to inform you of important changes and events in running the rally, that might or will impact your work at the stages. The information in the group is by default not to be published or used as the sole source of published information, but is there to help your work while at stages.

Material for editorial use

Media Centre

  • Wed 28 January, 14:00 – 20:00
  • Thu 29 January, 12:00 – 20:00
  • Fri 30 January, 08:00 – 22:00
  • Sat 31 January, 08:00 – 21:00

The Media Centre is located in Rally HQ Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus, Korkalonkatu 29, Rovaniemi. Entry via the “Kalotinlinna” doors by the Lordi Square, not the hotel main entrance.

Accreditation & Photo Tabards

The Media Centre is your collection point of accreditation materials. Our accreditations manager Anne Järvinen and Press Officer Juho Koski will be there as your contact points.

By accepting the media tabard, you agree to follow the Finnish Rally Championship Media Tabard aggreement:

Finnish Rally Championship Media Tabard AgreementDownload (.pdf)

Event media tabards are available for collection at the Media Centre on Wednesday 29 January at 19:00 after the Media Safety Briefing ends. The photo tabards must be returned to the Media Centre on Saturday 31 January by 21:00. If you can’t make it, please contact the Press Officer.

Pictured below is the only official and correct media tabard for the event. Uses of any other tabards or vests for “media use / access” must be photographed and reported to the Press Officer.

The official AKK media tabard.

Important information

Media Map

Open in Google Maps

Previously used Special Stages

  • Shakedown Kursunki – Same as Shakedown 2025
  • SS 1/5 Aittajärvi – Same as SS 1 2025 (0,33 km – Finish)
  • SS 2 Venni-Mäntyvaara – Same as SS 2 2025
  • SS 3 Kellolampi – New, last driven c. 2004
  • SS 4 Siikakämä – 0,00–15,45 km same as SS 4 2022 (0,00–15,45 km), 15,76–28,63 km Same as SS 7 2024 (14,13 km – Finish)
  • SS 6 Mäntyvaara – Same as SS 6 2025
  • SS 7 Veittivaara – 0,00–14,21 km Same as SS 7 2024, 14,21–27,94 km all new
  • SS 8 Jyrhämäjärvi – Same as SS 1 2023 (6,06 km – Finish)
  • SS 9 Murtotunturi – 0,00–5,35 km Same as SS 4 2025 (0,41–5,65 km), 6,99–10,60 km Same as SS 4 2025 (12,9–16,55 km), 10,60 – Finish all New
  • SS 10 Hanhikoski – New, last driven in 2017
  • SS 11 Kemijärvi – Same as SS 12 2025
  • SS 12 Sarriojärvi – Same as SS 12 2024 (0,78 km – Finish)

Identification of Officials

  • Stage Commander: red tabard
  • Stage Safety Commander: green tabard
  • Doctor: white tabard
  • Competitors’ Relations Officer: orange tabard
  • Timekeeping, marshal, ticket sales: yellow tabard
  • Scrutineering: green tabard

Access to Special Stages

Media follows the official road closing times, which vary depending on the stage. Driving on the special stage roads is thus prohibited after the road has been closed.

Media parking should be available for a few at all stage ends of each access road. However, this year we have an unprecedented TV Production, which may affect parking availability.

If you are doing recce during the rally week, please pay close attention to recce times allowed for competitors and be extremely cautious on the narrow roads. See the Official Noticeboard for competitors’ material on their recce.

All stage starts and many ends are mostly very tightly snow ploughed, so please do not attempt to access them unless you can find a parking place on other nearby road. Please do note that any parking on the large main roads is forbidden and can be fined for by the police.

Many of the roads you might see on a public normals maps connecting to the stages are completely or at least dangerously blocked by snow. Snowfall can also change the situation quickly, so a road that was open a few days ago might be blocked when you return to it.

Safety

The 0-000 cars start the stages from 5 to 20 minutes before the competitor. Please be at your chosen spot well in time to avoid surprising and dangerous situations.

Please remember it will be extremely difficult and dangerous to walk on the stages while the special stage is running. The cars start the stage with 1 minute intervals and even if we have only little snow this year, beneath the snow are deep ditches preventing easy exit from the road.

Please be adhere to caution while driving on road sections. Especially watch out for reindeer. There are tens of thousands of reindeer in the surrounding regions that wander around freely. Reindeer are the outworldly and sacred creature of the North. They are tamed animals accustomed to humans, yet can be dangerous if approached. Always remember that reindeer will not make for you, you make way for them. If you hit a reindeer with car, always call the local emergency number 112 and strictly follow the instructions you receive.

Road Closure times

Thursday 29.1.2026

Shakedown Kursunki: Closure between 10:00 – 20:00

Friday 30.1.2026

SS1 Aittajärvi 1: Closure between 8:30 – 21:30

SS2 Venni-Mäntyvaara: Closure between 9:30 – 17:00

SS3 Kellolampi: Closure between 13:00 – 20:00

SS4 Siikakämä: Closure between 13:00 – 21:00

SS5 Aittajärvi 2: Closure between 8:30 – 21:30

SS6 Mäntyvaara: Closure between 9:30 – 23:30

Saturday 31.1.2026

SS7 Veittivaara: Closure between 7:00 – 14:00

SS8 Jyrhämäjärvi: Closure between 8:30 – 16:00

SS9 Murtotunturi: Closure between 10:00 – 18:00

SS10 Hanhikoski: Closure between 12:00 – 19:00

SS11 Kemijärvi: Closure between 13:00 – 20:00

SS12 Sarriojärvi: Closure between 13:30 – 22:00

Service / refuel area closure:

Kemijärvi Service Park: Closure 31.1.2026 between 10:00 – 16:00

Vanttauskoski Service Park: Closure 31.1.2026 starting 9:00 –

Narkaus Refuel: Closure 30.1.2026 starting 12:30 –

Luusua Refuel: Closure 31.1.2026 starting 12:00 –

Kielijuppo Refuel: Closure 31.1.2026 starting 15:30 –

Events for media

Media Safety Briefing
Wednesday, 28 January at 18:00
Rally HQ / Media Centre
Mandatory hybrid meeting for all accredited media. You can join either onsite or via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/eej-abwi-dgr

Shakedown stage
Thursday, 28 January, from 13:00 to 20:00, the shakedown Kursunki is optional for all competitors and is included in the entry fee.

See more information in the Rally Guide for competitors.

Interviews before the Ceremonial Start
Media is given a moment to interview competitors shortly at the holding area before the Ceremonial Start on Korkalonkatu.

Ceremonial Start
Thursday 29 January, 19:00
Lordi Square. The traditional start ceremony is now moved from Friday morning to Thursday evening.

Interviews before the podium
Media is given a moment to interview competitors at the holding area before Ceremonial Finish.

Ceremonial Finish
Saturday 31 January, 18:00
Lordi Square, Rovaniemi