Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen, who won the Finnish championship in SM1-class on Sunday, are already preparing for the Finnish World Rally Championship, which starts on Friday. The duo, driving TGS Worldwide’s Škoda Fabia R5 Evo, is ready to face the challenges posed by the gravel roads of Central Finland.

 

“We went home to turn around and didn't have time to celebrate the Finnish championship at all. We’ve had a busy schedule here. We’re not going to drive a pre-test and we wouldn't have had time for that anyway. The guys at TGS are currently going through our car after the last Finnish Championship Rally. Everything is inspected to make sure things are in order on Friday”, Lindholm tells.

 

“We have a good car and good adjustments. I had a good feeling about the car and my driving the whole time in Kokkola. The only question mark is how broken the smaller roads in Jyväskylä will go. If they last then we don’t have to do anything to our car and if they don’t, well then we will do little adjustments”, Lindholm says.

 

Lindholm sees new challenges in the exceptionally late Finnish World Rally Championship round.

 

“The roads are in a softer condition, the weather is colder and, as in Kokkola last weekend, when cutting tight from the turns, mud and gravel can rise from the bends up to the road which makes it surprisingly challenging and slippery”, Lindholm says.

 

The WRC Secto Automotive Rally Finland, which starts in Jyväskylä next Friday, is Lindholm's fourth Finnish World Rally Championship event in his career. In previous years Lindholm’s pace has always been at a good level but there’s been misfortune on his way. Lindholm will start on the route with a starting number of 32 and his place in the starting order on Friday will be 23rd.

 

“We set out to do our best and see if it is enough. We aim to be high in rankings but we are not trying to push to get a good result. One-third of the route is new and driving purely from pace notes has always been our strength. The goal is to have a whole and full weekend. Perhaps it is the wisest to drive for the result of our own class (WRC3) and take it from there. Of course I am also little interested of comparing our speed to the WRC2-class”, Lindholm says.

 

“If everything goes well it goes well. We are trying to drive fast and enjoy the rally. Our goal on Sunday is to be as high on the standings as possible, but before that we have a few rather challenging special stages ahead of us”, Lindholm reminds.

 

The tenth World Rally Championship round of the season, The WRC Secto Automotive Rally Finland, will start on Friday, October 1st in Jyväskylä at 13:07. The opening day program includes six special stages (89.42 km). The rally will continue on Saturday with nine special stages (151.95 km) and will end on Sunday after four special stages (45.74 km) at 13:18 in the Power Stage Ruuhimäki.