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Emil Lindholm: ”Finnish Rally Champion requires wins from us”

28.08.2019 / Marko Mäkinen

The Finnish Rally Championship continues in Laitila this upcoming weekend after a two-month break. SM1-class third in points Emil Lindholm and Mikael Korhonen prepared for the upcoming weekend by pace noting WRC Rally Germany. 

”WRC Rally Germany was a difficult rally because of its conditions. Roads were narrow and hard to learn. You couldn’t see the shape of the turns or where they ended unless you were driving next to an open field. None of the turns were round. The turns just kept going sharper and sharper. It was a great experience for both of us”, Lindholm says. 

In FRC-series there is important key moments ahead of the drivers. The two last rallies are driven during a month period, which resolves that who will be the SM1-class Finnish Champion. This upcoming Saturday Lindholm and Korhonen are starting the second to last rally, SM Oili Jalonen Rally in Laitila, with number 23. Front wheel-class cars will open the route. 

”We have to drive all out. We don’t have any other choices than try to win both of these last SM-rallies. We still have theoretical possibility of winning the championship and we are going to battle as long as we can. To be Champion requires wins from us and our goal is to get them”, Lindholm reminds. 

Lindholm has driven SM-rally in Laitila and Uusikaupunki areas once before. Two years ago the result was winning the front wheel-car SM3-class. 

”We are driving shakedown on Thursday to make sure everything is fine with the car. I feel good how we drove in Rally Finland. Our car doesn’t need any changes. In Jyväskylä our speed was on a good level and if we can drive like that in Laitila, our result should be good too”, Lindholm says. 

Next Saturday’s SM Oili Jalonen-rally is the second to last SM-series rally of the season. The rally has 8 special stages, together 106,12 kilometres. Of the rally’s six special stages 2 are driven through twice. First competitors start from Laitila Market Square to the route at 10:01. During the day the competitors visit maintenance at Turuntie 11, 23800 Laitila starting 14:51. The drivers are expected at the rally’s finish line in Laitila Market Square starting at 18:55.

Photo: Merita Mäkinen

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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