Flat-out gravel roads, blind crests and thousands of passionate fans await as the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) blasts back into high-speed territory at Delfi Rally Estonia (17 - 20 July).
After a string of rough and technical events - from the ruts of Sardinia to the heat of Greece - Estonia marks the beginning of a flat-out European summer. It's the first time this season crews will face true high-speed gravel, with average speeds topping 120kph.
Few know these roads better than Kalle Rovanperä and Ott Tänak - and both arrive with a point to prove.
For Rovanperä, this is a proven hunting ground. The two-time world champion scored his maiden WRC win here in 2021 - becoming the youngest-ever winner of a WRC round in the process - and has since added two more Estonia victories to his tally. But, after slipping to fourth in the standings following a retirement in Greece, the Toyota star needs to bounce back fast.
"It's cool to be going back to Rally Estonia this year," said Rovanperä. "It's where I took my first win in the WRC and we've had some good success since then also, so I have good memories of this event. I really enjoy driving on the fast and flowing roads and they suit my style well, so I'm excited."
Tänak, meanwhile, heads to his home round riding high after taking victory on last month's EKO Acropolis Rally Greece. The Hyundai driver topped eight of the 17 stages to claim his first win in over eight months - and now returns to familiar territory full of confidence and backed by the roar of home support.
A win here would mark Tänak's first on home soil since 2020 - and could prove pivotal in his quest to overhaul the Toyota duo ahead of him in the standings. Just 12 points cover the top three, with Elfyn Evans leading from Sébastien Ogier - absent this week - and Tänak.
Estonia's profile could hardly be more different to the rocky tests of recent weeks. The rally is defined by its mix of fast and flowing yet equally technical gravel tracks, where average speeds soar and commitment is everything
Tänak is joined by Hyundai colleagues Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux, while Rovanperä's GR Yaris Rally1 squad also fields cars for Evans, Takamoto Katsuta, Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg.
Solberg, the son of 2003 world champion Petter, makes a highly anticipated return to the top tier this week. Currently leading the WRC2 standings, the Swede is stepping up to a Rally1 car for the first time since 2022 as part of a one-off drive with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
M-Sport Ford's Puma Rally1 entries include Grégoire Munster, Josh McErlean and Mārtiņš Sesks – the Latvian a stage winner on the similarly fast stages of his neighbouring home round last year.
Delfi Rally Estonia begins with Thursday evening's Visit Estonia Tartu vald stage and comprises 20 competitive tests totalling more than 300km before Sunday afternoon's finish.
