WRC2 CHAMPION 2022

Emil Lindholm Emil Lindholm

WRC2 CHAMPION 2022

Emil Lindholm Emil Lindholm

WRC2 CHAMPION 2022

Emil Lindholm Emil Lindholm

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Lindholm: "More of a strategic game than absolute speed"

29 May 2024

Hyundai Motorsport N team’s Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen are starting the sixth round of the World Rally Championship, the WRC Rally Italia Sardegna, for the third time. The duo competes on the Mediterranean island belonging to Italy with the French team CHL Sport Auto's Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

This coming weekend, the WRC Rally Italia Sardegna will test a new 48-hour competition format for the first time, where all the special stages are driven within 48 hours from the start on Friday to the finish on Sunday. This means that one day has been cut from the rally week. In Sardinia, a total of 16 special stages (266.12 km) will be driven, which is about 50 km less than a normal WRC rally.

The shakedown will take place on Friday morning and the first special stage will start at 15:33 on Friday. Last special stage starts at 13:15 on Sunday Finnish time. Another peculiarity of the rally is that the morning and afternoon special stages are driven twice in a row.

- We had a good pre-test day; our car was balanced and pleasant to drive. The new format means we have less time to work on our pace notes. I believe the new format is a welcome direction for the WRC rally schedule. I think we will see more rallies like this in the future, Lindholm states.

The Finnish duo will start the rally with CHL Sport Auto's Hyundai i20 N Rally2, which they have already competed with in two previous WRC rallies this season. Lindholm is aware of the challenges of the Sardinian Rally and knows there is a tough competition ahead. In the last two attempts, the rally ended due to suspension failures.

- We have the same familiar car under us. Sardinia is a beautiful island, and adjusting speed to the difficult driving conditions on its roads is a challenging task. It's somewhat similar to Greece's Acropolis Rally, which is actually one of my favorite rallies.

- Competing in Sardinia is more of a strategic game than absolute speed. The roads here are also technical. No one knows how many or what size stones will rise from the gravel tracks onto the roads this year. You have to be very careful. Tires and the car need to be handled carefully, Lindholm points out.

The weather forecast for the weekend in Sardinia is promising, with sunshine and dry conditions, though there is a slight chance of rain on Sunday. The Finnish duo enters the rally with confidence.

- We aim to do our best. To achieve a good result, we will do everything we can, Lindholm promises.

WRC Rally Italia Sardegna begins on Friday morning at 9:01 with the shakedown, followed by the rally start at 14:30 Finnish time in the afternoon. Four special stages (77.42 km) will be driven during the day.

The rally continues on Saturday with eight special stages (149.00 km) and concludes on Sunday with four special stages (39.30 km), with the final Sassari – Argentiera 2 Power Stage (7.10 km) starting at 13:15 Finnish time.