KMS Racing’s Dahlqvist opened the season with 4th in the championship standings
KMS Racing opened the 2024 rallying season with the young Finn Raoul Dahlqvist. Driving his first snow rally in a Fiesta Rally4, the 18-year-old scored fourth-biggest points from the opening round of FRC.
As the official M-Sport partner in Finland, Tuusula-based KMS Racing opened the 2024 competitive season with young Raoul Dahlqvist. The 18-year-old, who currently serves his mandatory military service, finished the rally in 6th position.
-We finished fourth in terms of championship scoring drivers and I’m happy with that. The beginning was a bit difficult since I hadn’t driven since the tests at Vanttauskoski before Christmas, but otherwise it was ok, Dahlqvist said.
The opening round of the Finnish Rally Championship was contested in Riihimäki in snowy conditions. Dahlqvist, who made his debut on snow with the Rally4 Fiesta, had some surprises during the reconnaissance part of the event.
-The conditions during the rally were good, apart from a bit of gravel on the stages that were driven twice which affected our tires negatively. However, recce was difficult for us, as there was a lot of snow on the roads which were not cleared yet. Definitely the hardest recce of my career, Dahlqvist explained.
-I’m happy to see Raoul improving his pace throughout the rally. Small changes with the setup of the car and the driving style immediately yielded the results we hoped for, KMS Racing Team Principal Jussi Kumpumäki commented after the event.
Finnish Rally Championship continues on 2nd to 3rd of February with the traditional Arctic Lapland Rally held over two days.
SM Auto-Sorsa Riihimäki Ralli results in FRC3-category:
1. Leevi Lassila 1:06:06,7 Ford Fiesta Rally4 FIN
2. Niko Kalmi +59,7 Ford Fiesta Rally4 FIN
3. Mark-Egert Tiits +1:37,5 Ford Fiesta Rally4 EST
4. Giovanni Trentin +3:30,1 Renault Clio Rally4 ITA
5. Ossi Pohjanharju +3:37,3 Ford Fiesta Rally4 FIN
6. Raoul Dahlqvist +4:28,6 Ford Fiesta Rally4 FIN
Photo: Merita Mäkinen
