Finnish Rally Championship series opening event for the summer season, Länsirannikon Rally, started perfectly for Lindholm and Hämäläinen. All three tarmac special stages of the day were driven on gravel tyres and Lindholm clocked fastest times for each special stage.

 

”We did very well on the tarmac. I think driving with gravel tyres on tarmac is what driving a rally on a tarmac should be like: having lots of fun. Gravel tyres held on the tarmac better than on hard-surfaced gravel roads and still allowed us to drive fast and slide a little on the turns. It was a fun experience”, Lindholm smiled.

 

On Saturday nine special stages were competed on gravel roads. Lindholm was happy with his driving and the fulfilment of his preliminary goal. From three FRC rallies of the season the result is two podium places.

 

”The podium was our goal and we reached it. The morning’s special stages were challenging because the ground was a little damp. The afternoon’s stages we drove well. Our whole palette worked better later on the day. We drove flawlessly all day without any mistakes”, Lindholm reminds.

 

Lindholm is particularly happy with the development work of the MRF rally tyres.

 

”In just over a year we have reached a situation where we are competing for winning rallies, driving the fastest times on every rally and getting to the podium. It is a great achievement and a good place for the development work to continue. This is a good situation to continue the summer season”, Lindholm says.

 

The next rally in the Finnish Rally Championship series, SM Pohjanmaa-ralli, will be driven in three weeks on 18-19th of June in Seinäjoki. 

 

Results: SM Länsirannikon-rally, Lieto:

1. Mikko Heikkilä – Topi Luhtinen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo 49:12,4

2. Teemu Asunmaa – Marko Salminen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 6,6

3. Emil Lindholm – Reeta Hämäläinen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 24,8

4. Aleksi Röyhkiö – Ville Mannisenmäki Škoda Fabia R5 + 25,4

5. Juha Salo – Mikko Markkula Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 33,1

6. Riku Tahko – Markus Soininen Hyundai i20 R5 1:36,0

 

SM1-class unofficial points 3/6 events:

1. Teemu Asunmaa 59

2. Mikko Heikkilä 54

3. Juha Salo 53

4. Emil Lindholm 47