Team GRX’s Emil Lindholm and Reeta Hämäläinen, driving TGS Worldwide's Škoda Fabia R5 Evo, took the first place of the FRC Pohjanmaa Rally. With their victory Lindholm rose to a shared second place in the SM1-class Finnish Championship points.

Good things often happen when you least expect it. Team GRX’s Emil Lindholm had to use to a plan B with his tyre selection for the FRC Pohjanmaa rally. MRF Tyres factory was unable to deliver new gravel tyres to Finland due to the India’s bad Covid-19 situation. It happened to be a blessing in disguise.

”Even in my wildest dreams I didn’t imagine winning this rally. I didn’t expect anything to come out of here - let alone a trophy. I am aware that Friday’s result, fifth place and fifth starting spot with 8.4 seconds from the top, played a decisive role in this. We had a great place to drive and strike", Lindholm says.

The sandy gravel roads of south of Seinäjoki and in the Jalasjärvi area brought the necessary grip that led Lindholm to the winning speed.

“Our tyres performed excellently in a rally like this where there was a lot of loose gravel on the road. I am also really happy with my driving and cooperation with Reeta. Four fastest times out of eight are also very satisfying”, Lindholm says.

Lindholm said they drove as reasonably as possible.

“On top of that we didn't make mistakes. When driving from a note you can always think which part could be driven better or where to brake later but we drove well all day”, Lindholm smiled.

With the first Finnish Rally Championship victory of the season Lindholm rose to a shared second place in the SM1-class with two points from the top.

“The series came back alive for us. Succeeding feels really good. There was already a long period when it felt like nothing was going as planned. This is a good place to continue this season through”, Lindholm said happily at the finish line.

The next event in the Finnish Rally Championship series, The SM Top Building Rally, will be driven 13th and 14th of August in Lahti.

Results: FRC Pohjanmaa Rally overall standings, Seinäjoki:
1. Emil Lindholm – Reeta Hämäläinen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo 1:00:31,3
2. Mikko Heikkilä – Topi Luhtinen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 5,3
3. Teemu Asunmaa – Marko Salminen Škoda Fabia R5 Evo + 17,4
4. Aleksi Röyhkiö – Ville Mannisenmäki Škoda Fabia R5 + 24,7
5. Jukka Ketomäki – Kari Kuivinen Škoda Fabia R5 + 1:39,5