Jyväskylä exhibition traces 75 years of Finland’s WRC rally history

A new exhibition at Jyväskylä’s Aalto2 museum centre charts the 75-year history of Finland’s World Rally Championship event, from its first running in 1951 to the present day.

The display, titled Rallia Jyväskylässä – soraa, sankareita ja sirkusta 75, presents the rally as both a sporting event and a social phenomenon, featuring artefacts from entry tickets to classic rally cars, including Simo Lampinen’s Saab 96.

Curator Mikko Lundell spent eight months gathering material, drawing on personal archives, attics, and storage spaces. The museum collaborated with the Finnish Motorsport Federation (AKK) and the Mobility Museum Mobilia to assemble the collection.

The exhibition highlights the rally’s evolution: the 1951 inaugural event drew 26 competitors on a cross-country route, but by the late 1950s and early 1960s, the introduction of timed special stages transformed the competition. International recognition followed in 1959 when Jyväskylä joined the European Championship, and in 1973, it became part of the newly formed WRC series.

Lundell notes the event’s dual identity—“for some, it’s a forest festival; for others, a corporate gathering”—while also addressing criticisms, including environmental concerns. The display includes photographs and videos capturing the rally’s changing atmosphere over the decades.

The exhibition runs at Aalto2 until 8 November 2026.