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 starts defending his championship from Sweden

08 February 2023

Team GRX’s Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen will start defending their WRC2 class championship on Thursday evening in Umeå, Sweden. In the first rally of the season the Finnish duo will compete with Toksport WRT's new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.

The reigning champions of the WRC2 class, Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen, will start their World Rally Championship season, and their whole rally season, this coming weekend in Sweden. Reached from the recce, Lindholm says that he is confident going into the season opener, which is stretched out exceptionally far in his calendar.

- We have new things going on and a new car. This past weekend we drove tests with our Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 here and everything is in order for the future. The car hasn't been driven very much on snow so some small things are still untested that I want to try in the future, but everything is in order and we have a good base from which to start for the weekend.

Lindholm says that the new Škoda is a slightly different car to drive compared to the previous one.

- The new engine has more torque with lower rpm’s. The longer wheelbase helps in high-speed turns and the car is more stable to drive than before. Similarly, you have to turn a little more in slow turns. In a rally car the best possible compromise is always sought for each area, which together creates the best possible entirety.

Lindholm recalls that for him, the previous rally seasons have never started as late as now.

- It’s been almost three months since our last rally. I don't remember ever starting my rally season until February. Meanwhile I’ve been driving tests and I have been able to focus on other things as well, such as my studies.

- We are aiming for a good result and the competition will certainly be tough. The route looks good. There is enough snow, the banks are more than half a meter and the roads are in good shape. The conditions are great for a winter rally. Plus degrees have been predicted for the weekend, so we will see how the driving conditions change.

A year ago Lindholm scored full Power Stage points from Sweden. This year he hopes that he will be able to complete a good, intact rally.

- At this stage of the season there is no concrete compulsion to win, but of course a victory would be a great thingand we will do everything for that. I think that the best way to achieve a good result is to do your best. This year everything starts all over again and last year's merits have no advantage for us. In this rally our goal is aimed for Sunday, so we will try to start steady, Lindholm plans.

A total of 18 special stages and 301.18 km will be run in the World Rally Championship Sweden. The rally starts on Thursday evening at 20:05 (UTC+2) with a 5.16 km Umeå Sprint special stage. The competition continues on Friday with seven special stages, the total length of 106.76 km.

On Saturday, there are another seven special stages (126.22 km). The rally ends on Sunday, when there are three more special stages (63.04 km) driven. The final Power Stage special stage (10.08 km) of the rally starts at 13:18 (UTC+2).