Emil Lindholm, who started the second day of the SM Top Building Rally from the top spot, drove two full and complete days, which brought him an important second place in the rally and full FRC-points.

 

Lindholm, together with Reeta Hämäläinen, clocked two fastest and one second fastest time out of three special stages on the opening day of the rally. On the second day of the rally, Lindholm, driving with TGS Worldwide's Škoda Fabia R5 Evo, drove with the speed of the top cars.

 

For the sixth special stage of the day, and at the same time the last special stage of the rally, the difference between Lindholm and Heikkilä narrowed from 6.4 seconds to 0.6 seconds.

 

“The last special stage of the rally was clearly the most muddy of the route after the rain and it was a bit tricky for us. My own driving line didn’t really fit the grooves left by the historic cars. The special stage went well, a little bit too close, but luckily the clock was on our side”, Lindholm says.

 

“Once again we got a lot of important data for MRF Tyres. I have not driven in these conditions with MRF before and of course it is an important agenda for us in every rally to gather data for MRF”, Lindholm reminds.

 

Estonia's Egon Kaur took the lead in the rally after the first three special stages in the morning and held his position until the end.

 

“Egon drove fast and all credit to him for his victory. For us the maximum points were more important than the win itself this time. We saw his speed after the morning and it made no sense for us to start to try and push it and increase our risk so we could drive for the victory. In this rally we had more in stake in the form of the points” Lindholm said.

 

With the maximum points Lindholm continues second in the SM1-class, only one point behind Mikko Heikkilä, who rose to the first place. Teemu Asunmaa is seven points behind Heikkilä.

 

“In the last Finnish Championship rally of the season Mikko, Teemu and I don't have to count points. Who wins the rally is the new champion. This is a familiar situation from last season. We are going to do our everything for the number one podium spot and the championship”, Lindholm promises.

 

The solution of the Finnish Rally Championship series will be seen on the 25th-26th of September at the SM KokUA 60th anniversary rally in Kokkola.

 

Final results; SM Top Building-rally, Lahti:

1. Egon Kaur – Silver Simm Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 53:40.8

2. Emil Lindholm – Reeta Hämäläinen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 19.6

3. Mikko Heikkilä – Topi Luhtinen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 20.2

4. Eerik Pietarinen – Miikka Anttila Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 + 38.6

5. Teemu Asunmaa – Jani Salo Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 44.8

 

SM1-class points 5/6:

1. Mikko Heikkilä Škoda 86

2. Eemil Lindholm Škoda 85

3. Teemu Asunmaa Škoda 79