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's new program starts from WRC Rally Estonia

19 July 2023

The reigning champions of the WRC2 class, Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen, will make their debut with Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car in WRC Rally Estonia. "Our cooperation is off to a great start. We are lucky to be able to work in a team where the opportunity to drive at the Rally1 level may also open up", reminds Lindholm.

The Finnish duo Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen, selected for the Hyundai Motorsport Driver Development Program (HMDP), will appear for the first time behind the wheel of the WRC2 class Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car this upcoming weekend at the World Rally Championship round in Estonia.

Through the HMDP program established in 2017, Hyundai Motorsport is building the team's future providing young drivers with the environment and resources to focus, train and develop their skills to become the next generation of Rally1 driver candidates.

Lindholm got to know his new rally car for the first time during the tests in Estonia last week. The car is maintained by a French team 2C Compétition.

- The Hyundai Rally2 team is very professional. Our cooperation is off to a great start. Our new car is different to what I'm used to, but we got to drive it a lot last week.

- There is still a bit of work to be done to make it exactly how I want it to be, but we are already at a very good level. On fast roads like WRC Estonia, the steering has to be precise and that's what Hyundai has. The test was a good experience and left me with a good feeling, after which it's nice to start the competition on Thursday, sums up Lindholm.

The Estonian WRC route is made out of fast and sometimes soft dirt roads, where deep ruts easily dig in after the first rounds. Unsettled weather has been predicted for the upcoming weekend, which, together with the rain, will contribute to the breakage of the roads.

In WRC Estonia, Lindholm and Hämäläinen will start their Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car on the route with starting number 22 and starting position 11. The pair will aim to be on the podium after the rally.

- Our team has not set us performance goals, but my personal goal is always to drive for a good result. Last year we drove to the podium in Estonia and that is our goal this year as well. I see no reason why our goal should not be met.

A total of 21 special stages and 300.42 special stage kilometers will be driven in the World Rally Championship Estonia. The rally starts on Thursday evening at 20:05 with a parkland special stage (3.35 km) in Tartu.

The rally continues on Friday at 9:08 with the longest competition day of the rally. The day's program includes seven special stages and 133.38 special stage kilometers. The program includes, among other things, the longest stage of the rally, Peipsiääre (24.35 km), which is driven twice during the day.

Saturday's program includes nine special stages (102.61 km) and four more special stages (61.08 km) on the final day of the rally on Sunday. The twice-run Kambja (18.50 km) is the final Power Stage of the rally, which starts at 13:15 (UTC+3).

WRC2-class World Championship points:
1. Yohan Rossel (F) Citroën 77
2. Oliver Solberg (SWE) Škoda 64
3. Gus Greensmith (GB) Škoda 62
4. Kajetan Kajetanowicz (POL) Škoda 55
5. Emil Lindholm (FIN) Hyundai 44
6. Andreas Mikkelsen (N) Škoda 4