WRC2 CHAMPION 2022

Emil Lindholm Emil Lindholm

WRC2 CHAMPION 2022

Emil Lindholm Emil Lindholm

WRC2 CHAMPION 2022

Emil Lindholm Emil Lindholm

news

Misheard note dropped Lindholm from SM1-class lead to a third place

19 January 2020

Team GRX’s Emil Lindholm and Mikael Korhonen, who were leading the SM1-class before the last special stage, drove to a snow bank and dropped to SM1-class third place and overall fourth of the Arctic Lapland Rally. After the season opener Lindholm will continue his season from SM1-class, FRC points third place.

Team GRX’s Emil Lindholm and Mikael Korhonen were two disappointed drivers after arriving to the finish line of the Arctic Lapland Rally. The SM1-class win they almost had in their hands slipped away dramatically in the last special stage and changed to SM1-class third and overall fourth places.

In SS Niskavaara (19.97 km) Lindholm unfortunately misheard a note and drove his new Skoda in high speed into a snow bank, losing a minute and a half of extra time.

“I misheard a note. This is a downer and I want to apologize to all of our partners. Sure we were lucky that we even made the finish line and if I have to think the positive, all the points we are getting are important regarding to the rest of the FRC-series. We still haven’t lost anything but this shouldn’t have happened”, said Lindholm criticizing himself.

After the opening day Lindholm was leading the SM1-class and was second in the overall competition. Out of ten special stages Lindholm clocked fastest times in six of his class.

“We need to make some changes to our notes. These two notes we had are representing entirely two different speeds but phonetically sound the same. We had at least 50km/h to that turn and we were lucky that we didn’t roll the car over. Our right front wheel got on the top of the snow bank but I reversed so we were able to continue our competition quickly. Soon we noticed our engine’s air filter was full of snow and we had to stop and clean it”, Lindholm explained.

“I feel miserable now but the season will continue. At least knowing my speed was enough in this company of drivers soothes my mind a little. We will try again in the next rally”, Lindholm says.

FRC-series will continue in three weeks 7-8th of February in SM Vaakuna-rally in Mikkeli. This season there will be six rallies driven in the FRC-series. The season will end 25-26th of September in Pohjanmaa-rally driven in Seinäjoki.

SM ARCTIC LAPLAND RALLY, ROVANIEMI, FINLAND:
1. Kalle Rovanperä – Jonne Halttunen Toyota Yaris WRC 1:38:02,8
2. Teemu Asunmaa – Jani Salo Skoda Fabia R5 EVO + 3:27,6
3. Eerik Pietarinen – Miikka Anttila Skoda Fabia R5 EVO + 4:15,9
4. Emil Lindholm – Mikael Korhonen Skoda Fabia R5 EVO + 4:38,9
5. Esa Ruotsalainen – Jukka Ruotsalainen Skoda Fabia R5 EVO + 5:58,8
6. Niclas Grönholm – Antti Linnaketo Skoda Fabia R5 + 7:41,5

SM1-CLASS POINTS 1/6 ROUNDS:
1. Teemu Asunmaa Skoda Fabia R5 EVO 34
2. Eerik Pietarinen Skoda Fabia R5 EVO 25
3. Emil Lindholm Skoda Fabia R5 EVO 20