You Can Bet On The Arctic Rally Providing Thrills And Spills

Posted: February 24, 2021

Updated: February 24, 2021

Sebastien Ogier Wins Opener In Monte Carlo
Find Your Bet On The Arctic Rally At Bet365
First WRC Race For The Arctic Rally Finland

Image source: Vakie81, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

They have run the Arctic Rally since the 1960s but this is the first time as part of the WRC season. Rovaniemi is next to the Arctic Circle, so the conditions are always as icy and snowy as the name suggests. So, whilst Sebastien Ogier is favorite at online betting sites in the UK like Bet365, it’s anyone’s race. Mostly because they’ll need to be very careful. One slip and they can bet on the Arctic Rally ending almost instantly, their car neatly wrapped around a pine tree. Sebastien Ogier won the 89th Monte Carlo rally. Over the fourteen stages, he build up a thirty-three second lead over his teammate Elfyn Evans. Both driving the exceedingly capable Toyota Yaris rally car, neither will feel totally comfortable. Thierry Neuville and his Hyundai coupe wasn’t all that far behind. In the ice and snow of Lapland such narrow margins won’t buffer anyone enough. So you can bet on the Arctic Rally starting out quite cagey in the early stages. They first ran this race in 1966 and it is an integral part of the Finnish rally championship. Many consider “the Tunturiralli” a unique race, with a very specific character. That’s why it often attracts celebrity entries. Notably F1 drivers like Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen and Valterri Bottas. This year, however, your bet on the Arctic Rally shouldn’t include such dilettantes. As part of the WRC this year online sportsbook sites in the UK like Bet365 are taking it seriously. So should you.

Sebastien Ogier Starts As He Means To Go On

Sebastien Ogier winning in Monte Carlo surprised no one. He’s won there seven times before. Indeed his eighth win pushed him ahead of Sebastien Loeb’s record. Ogier has won it more times than anyone else ever now. Which means if you’re going to bet on the Arctic Rally perhaps he’s the man to back. He is certainly in the zone. However, in these very challenging conditions, the conventional wisdoms may not apply. Evans, Neuville, and Tanak all wait to pounce on any errors.

2021 WRC Odds

Anyone Else – 100/1

Kalle Rovanpera – 6/1

Thierry Neuville – 5/1

Elfyn Evans – 7/2

Ott Tanak – 9/4

Sebastien Ogier – 11/8

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Naturally, you may want to bet on the Arctic Rally requiring local knowledge. Janne Tuohino and Teemu Suninen will be there in their Fords. Both know the score. However, it’s probably Kalle Rovanpera, another Finn but one racing for Toyota, who stands the best chance. He won the event last year, so has to stand a good chance this time round. Whether you ought take advantage of UK gambling laws to bet on Kalle Rovanpera is another matter. Ogier is a master of the sport.

Bet On The Arctic Rally At Bet365

Elfyn Evans knows this. His run at a title will always have to go through Sebastien, his teammate. Hence that 33-second margin in Monte Carlo is significant. It demonstrates that having the same car may not give anyone an edge over the fabulous Frenchman. He’s still the man to beat after all these years. That’s why any bet on the Arctic Rally favoring another driver is a bit of a risky proposition. Certainly, any bet on the 2021 WRC against him has the whiff of overt optimism.

Arctic Rally Finland

Date – February 26th-28th 2021

Location – Rovaniemi, Lapland

Aka – The Tunturiralli

Stages – 10

Distance – 251.08km

Surface – Snow/Ice

The odds on Sebastien Ogier winning the 2021 WRC now stand at around 6/4. Evans gets 7/2 with Ott Tanak on approximately 9/4. This is closer than in previous years. So some of you will feel Evans or Tanak are a good bet on sports in the UK this time round. After all Ogier has to run out of steam sometime, right? Well possibly. Just don’t bet on the Arctic Rally to unfold as expected. It won’t. This is a special race in a special year and you can expect a very special result.