Young Talent Dahlqvist to make his WRC debut with Fiesta Rally3
KMS Racing is competing in the upcoming weekend’s Secto Rally Finland with two cars. The spotlight is undoubtedly on the 18-year-old Raoul Dahlqvist making his WRC debut in the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally3 in WRC3 category.
The official M-Sport partner in Finland, KMS Racing, is set to compete in the upcoming Secto Rally Finland held in Jyväskylä with a two-car line-up. The line-up represents both the young, upcoming talents of the Finnish rallying as well as experience at the fast gravel stages.
Competing with the team's Ford Fiesta Rally3 is 18-year-old Raoul Dahlqvist, co-driven by Patric Öhman. Secto Rally Finland marks the young talent’s just second rally with four-wheel-drive cars. Competing in the highly competitive WRC3 category, the young Finn has been preparing well for his WRC debut alongside completing his civic duty at the Finnish Defence Forces.
-I’m excited to be able to drive in Jyväskylä. It really is a dream come true to be here. It’s hard to say what my expectations are, but it’s going to be a fantastic weekend for sure, said Dahlqvist, competing with number 63.
The second car is driver by a true veteran of the rally. Raimo Kaisanlahti is competing in his career-nineteenth WRC Finland. Kaisanlahti is co-driven by a former driver himself and a KMS mechanic Jani Luhtaniemi. There won’t be a shortage of experience in the cabin of the Ford Fiesta Rally4.
Secto Rally Finland is held in Jyväskylä, Finland from 1st to 4th of August. The event consists of 20 special stages and 305,69 special stage kilometres. The rally is shown via Rally.tv livestreaming service.
Secto Rally Finland itinerary
Thursday 1.8. – 3,48 km
10:01 Shakedown Ruuhimäki – 4,12 km
19:05 SS1 Harju 1 – 3,48 km
Friday 2.8. – 116,33 km
08:13 SS2 Laukaa 1 – 17,96 km
09:20 SS3 Saarikas 1 – 15,93 km
10:35 SS4 Myhinpää 1 – 15,51 km
12:05 SS5 Ruuhimäki 1 – 7,76 km
15:10 SS6 Laukaa 2 – 17,96 km
16:17 SS7 Saarikas 2 – 15,93 km
17:32 SS8 Myhinpää 2 – 15,51 km
19:05 SS9 Ruuhimäki 2 – 7,76 km
20:05 SS10 Harju 2 – 2,01 km
Saturday 3.8. – 144,22 km
09:05 SS11 Västilä 1 – 18,94 km
10:05 SS12 Päijälä 1 – 20,19 km
11:05 SS13 Ouninpohja 1 – 32,98 km
15:35 SS14 Västilä 2 – 18,94 km
16:35 SS15 Päijälä 2 – 20,19 km
17:35 SS16 Ouninpohja 2 – 32,98 km
Sunday 4.8. – 41,66 km
08:55 SS17 Sahloinen-Moksi 1 – 14,27 km
10:05 SS18 Laajavuori 1 – 4,35 km
11:17 SS19 Sahloinen-Moksi 2 – 14,27 km
13:15 EK20 Laajavuori 2 (Wolf Power Stage) – 8,77 km
Photo: Taneli Niinimäki / AKK