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: "An Exceptionally Fast Rally Ahead"

31 July 2024

The wait is over for Hyundai Motorsport N team's Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen. This upcoming weekend, the duo will compete in the WRC Secto Rally Finland in front of their home crowd.

For Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen of the Hyundai Motorsport N team, the highlight of the season - the Finnish WRC Rally, is just around the corner. They will compete in the ninth WRC round of the season with CHL Sport Auto’s Hyundai i20 N Rally2. After final test runs last Sunday, the duo is entering the rally with confidence.

- We tried some significant changes to our car, and some of these improved its performance. Ahead lies a challenging rally where we need to get the best out of both - the crew and the car. Everything has to be 100% in place for us to expect a good result. But of course, we will give our all to achieve success, Lindholm emphasizes.

This year’s WRC route in Central Finland is fast and includes several classic special stages.

- When looking at the route map, I noticed that there are lot of fast roads on the schedule. We have an exceptionally fast route ahead of us, especially on Saturday, which includes the special stages of Västilä, Päijälä, and Ouninpohja. On these stages, there’s no need to slow down. It’s high speed from one turn to another.

- This year, I’ll be driving a four-wheel-drive car on the traditional big road of Ouninpohja for the first time. This stage is one of my favorites this year. For the first time, a virtual chicane has been built in Ouninpohja, where speed must be reduced to 60 km/h over a 200-meter stretch.

- It’s an interesting and good experiment because fixed physical obstacles often move when hit and thus pose a safety risk. The virtual chicane is a fair slowing point for everyone, Lindholm points out.

Lindholm's favorite spot on the Ouninpohja special stage is the Kakaristo field opening.

- It’s somehow thrilling to drive down the right-turning bend that opens up to the field and to see the sea of spectators. You can feel the atmosphere inside the car. Additionally, in the Kakaristo hairpin junction, there are many familiar faces, partners, and family members watching the rally. It’s a great atmosphere. Lindholm smiles.

For the upcoming rally, Lindholm aims for a solid and good performance.

- This is the highlight of the season and a unique rally. I’m not thinking about the result but rather focusing on delivering my best performance in Jyväskylä, Lindholm concludes.

WRC Secto Rally Finland events kick off on Thursday morning with a shakedown in Ruuhimäki. The first special stage of the rally will take place on Thursday evening in Harju, Jyväskylä. The rally includes a total of 20 special stages and 306.69 km of special stages. The competition ends on Sunday with the Laajavuori Power Stage (8.77 km), where the first competitor starts at 13:15.