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Lindholm fighting to win in Joensuu

28.02.2019 / Marko Mäkinen

Team GRX’s Emil Lindholm and Mikael Korhonen are returning to Finnish Rally Championship series in the last winter season’s rally in Joensuu. Lindholm and Korhonen couldn’t attend the previous SM-rally in Kouvola because of WRC Rally Sweden was held at the same time. The twosome who won the Finnish Rally Championship opener Arctic Lapland-rally in Rovaniemi will start this upcoming Saturday at Itäralli in third place in SM-points, starting from position four.

“We again got good and important experiences among other things of our new car from Rally Sweden. Our car is in a good performance shape, so I don’t think we need to make any adjustments after Thursday’s test day”

“Volkswagen is actually more sensitive car for adjustments than my previous cars. If we do something it is going to be no more than fine adjustments to the stiffness of our suspension”

Winner of the SM-season opener will seek a good ending to the winter season and lot of points from this weekend’s competition.

“We are heading to Joensuu with a good feeling. Of course we are trying to win. Now that we have that one allowed zero points rally, all the points from Itäralli are important to us considering the series”

“We get to drive fast also in Joensuu, I have no doubt of that. We are going to Itäralli with same tactics as Rally Sweden; making good notes that we can trust and drive fast and keep our heads calm”, Lindholm plans.

SM Itäralli will start this Saturday at 10:01 from Joensuu Market Square. On the competition there are six special stages driven which all together are 97.5 kilometres. Rally’s finish line is the ending of Super Special stage driven in Joensuu racetrack, 1.7 kilometres, in front of the audience. The winners are expected on the finish line Saturday afternoon starting 17:53.

Photo: Timo Anis

Score top 5

1. Tuukka Kauppinen / Sebastian Virtanen 52 points Huuha UA (Rally2)
2. Teemu Asunmaa / Janne Ferm 45 points AlavUA (Rally2)
3. Niclas Grönholm / Samu Vaaleri 28 points EMSC (Rally2)
4. Esapekka Lappi / Enni Mälkönen 25 points PiekUA (Rally2)
5. Mats Rinne / Kim Niemelä 18 points YkUA (R5)

< See all >

Calendar 2025

     1. 17.-18.1. Hotelli IsoValkeinen SM-ralli Kuopio 250 v., Kuopio
     2. 30.1-1.2. 60. Arctic Lapland Rally, Rovaniemi
     3. 7.-8.3. SM Savonlinna Ralli, Savonlinna
     4. 23.-24.5. SM Red Devil Länsirannikon Ralli, Turku
     5. 11.-12.7. SM Ralli, Kouvola
     6. 15.-16.8. SM Ralli, Lahti
     7. 26.-27.9. SM Seinäjoki Ralli, Seinäjoki

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