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: “The Škoda’s balance is now exceptionally good”

24 June 2025

GRX team’s Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen will continue their WRC2 World Championship season with Toksport WRT’s Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 this coming weekend at the Acropolis Rally in Greece. The duo celebrated a WRC2 class victory in Greece in the autumn of 2022.

Preparation for the Greek WRC rally with the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 by Toksport WRT went according to plan. The Finnish pair conducted a full-day test in Greece on Sunday, where they tested setup ideas from the previous WRC round in Sardinia under real conditions.

The Greek WRC rally is the seventh round on the calendar, but only the third WRC2 event for the Finnish duo.

“We’re feeling good going into the rally. The car felt good in Sardinia. We’ll approach the route similarly to Sardinia, since the fastest time on the first gravel stage likely won’t decide the winner of this rally. Sunday is also a very long day (99.06 km of special stages), so anything can still happen", Lindholm says.

Lindholm notes that the Škoda’s setup for the Greek WRC rally is very similar to that used in Sardinia.

“The changes are small because the Škoda’s balance on gravel has been exceptionally good", Lindholm explains.

The Acropolis Rally of Greece is one of the classic events on the WRC calendar. Its reputation is built on its unforgiving nature, high temperatures, and rugged terrain, which challenge both drivers and machinery. For the first time since 2021, the rally moves from September to its traditional June slot—one of the hottest months in Greece—adding to the challenge.

“The Greek WRC rally is a different kind of competition than Sardinia. There are very rocky sections here but also flowing roads that resemble Finnish roads. Conditions vary a lot during the rally. And it’s hot. If the sun is out, temperatures in the shade can exceed 40°C", Lindholm notes.

The rally will primarily use Hankook’s harder compound gravel tires, but at some point, softer compound gravel tires must also be used. Lindholm and Hämäläinen will start 25th on the road with car number 35.

“Rain showers are forecast for Saturday, so the softer compound tires would be good to use then. Friday is a tough and long day—over 120 km of special stages and only one 20-minute remote service. But there’s still plenty of driving left for Saturday and Sunday. We’ll do our best", Lindholm promises.

WRC Acropolis Rally in Brief:

The shakedown for the Greek WRC Rally (3.62 km) will be driven on Thursday morning starting at 08:01. The rally officially begins the same day in the early evening with a stadium special stage in Athens (SS1, 1.50 km) at 18:05.

The rally continues Friday, which is the second-longest competition day. It includes seven special stages: Aghii Theodori (SS2/4, 26.76 km) driven twice, and Loutraki (SS3, 12.90 km), Thiva (SS5, 19.58 km), Stiri (SS6, 24.18 km), and Elatia (SS7, 11.58 km) each driven once.

Saturday is the longest competition day of the rally, featuring six special stages: Pavliani (SS8/11, 24.58 km), Karoutes (SS9/12, 19.48 km), and Inohori (SS10/13, 17.66 km), all driven twice.

On Sunday, the final day, four special stages will be driven: the new Smokovo stage (SS14/16, 26.16 km) and the traditional Tarzan stage (SS15/17, 23.37 km), both driven twice. The second run of Tarzan will serve as the rally’s concluding Power Stage (at 14:15).