Jarkko Nikara wil🅷l compete in a Prodrive-run MINI John Cooper Wor𝓀ks WRC car on Rally Finland next month.

ജThe Finn's last outing in the MINI was at Rally Sweden in February - as the planned subsequent run on Rally de Portugal in April was aborted.

While Nikara has competed on his home event before, this will be his first outing on it in a World Rally Car. To prepare for the Jyvaskyla-based event, he and co-driver Jarkko Kalliolepo will co🃏mpete in the Kouvola Rally in two weeks, which is part of the Finnish Rally Championship.

"I have been waiting a long time to get back behind🍬 the wheel of the MINI, and to do it on my home event will be extra special," Nikara commented. "The car is easy to drive, so I do not think it will tak⭕e me long to find my pace and rhythm.

"Unlike previous events, I will have ♌more practice time in the car and with the extra power on this fast rally, I think we can really push for a good finish."

Nikara will drive the latest specification of MINI WRC on the event, which was intr🔴oduced in March with an upgraded engine giving the car around another 8 bhp.

Richard Taylor, Pr✱odrive business development director added: "The whole team here is eager to get back to a full WRC event and to see how the improved MINI performs in the hands of a driver w🃏ho likes these roads and we know is capable of setting top-ten stage times even in such a strong field."