Heikkilä third in FRC Jyväskylä

Mikko Heikkilä has finished third in the FRC Jyväskylä Ralli. Making a one-time return into the series he won in 2022, the Skoda driver’s goal was to prepare for the summer rounds of WRC in Estonia and Finland.

Finnish racing driver Mikko Heikkilä and co-driver Kristian Temonen made a surprise return to the Finnish Rally Championship this weekend, as the series visited the home of Finnish Rallying, Jyväskylä. The event, held in the scenery familiar from the WRC rallies, acted as part of the Skoda driver’s preparations for the upcoming summer rallies of WRC Estonia and Finland. Heikkilä lead the event from the start and was in contention for the win throughout, but ultimately the fresh ERC winner had to settle for third overall.

-I had one bad stage throughout the rally, and Jaspar (Vaher) drove a good time on that stage. No explanation for it, I just didn’t perform. Without that stage my pace was steady. Even the last stage was good, until a slight pacenote mistake as I lifted in a place where it should have been flat out. The small mistake, along with one wrong line into a junction, cost the chance to catch Esapekka (Lappi). Overall a good weekend with great practice, but as a competitor that always strives to win, it’s slightly frustrating, Heikkilä said.

The route included multiple stages familiar from the itineraries of WRC Finland, including Laajavuori and Sahloinen. The fast gravel roads meant that Heikkilä’s average speed throughout the rally was 118,1 kilometres per hour. The stages received thanks from the Skoda driver.

-The route was amazing, big thank you for the organizers for their efforts. It was a joy to drive on these stages.

The TGS Motorsport driver continues his competitive season in WRC Estonia from 17^th to 19^th of July. Heikkilä’s different kind of rally week concluded with the event driven in front of big crowds of rallying fans.

-We’ll continue our season in Estonia. A big thanks to the TGS team, it was a nice week to spend time and do things together with the team and get familiar with all perspectives of rallying. The week included me being a mechanic, a truck driver, a rally driver, as well as a driver in general. Big thanks to our cooperation partners as well for the possibility of slipping this extra event here. The weekend overall was certainly on the positive side, Heikkilä said.

Mikko Heikkilä’s competitive season continues with WRC Estonia on 17^th to 19^th of July.

Final Results of SM Jyväskylä Ralli

1. Jaspar Vaher (EST) 46:14.5 Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

2. Esapekka Lappi +5.6 Skoda Fabia RS Rally2

3. Mikko Heikkilä +9.4 Skoda Fabia RS Rally2

4. Yuki Yamamoto (JPN) +35,7 Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

5. Patrick Enok (EST) +41,6 Skoda Fabia RS Rally2