Heikkilä to make his fifth outing in Rallye Ciudad de Granada

Mikko Heikkilä is set for a competitive outing in the Rallye Ciudad de Granada this weekend. The Finnish ERC event winner is competing in Granada for the fifth time in his career, and this year the Finn is competing with a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2.

Finnish rally driver and WRC2 regular Mikko Heikkilä competes this weekend in the Rallye Ciudad de Granada in Spain. Held as a part of the Spanish Gravel Rally Championship, Heikkilä was invited to compete in the rally and will be fielding a CD Plemar -prepared Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The event marks Heikkilä’s fifth time in the rally, as the Finn has been competing in the event every year since 2022 – when he won the Finnish championship.

-I’m happy to be a part of the Rallye Ciudad de Granada again this year. It’s always a pleasure to come here, and it’s a nice event overall. Big thanks to the organizers for the invitation as well as Pirelli for the tires. Equipment-wise everything should be in order, so we aim to have a go but still keep a clear head, Heikkilä said.

A winner in 2023 and 2024 editions of the rally, Heikkilä competes in the event after a short break from competitive special stages. The event consists of new gravel roads as well as a unique opportunity to showcase skills in car control.

-The stages are a bit different in terms of character here than in the WRC or ERC events, but driving is always a positive thing for us. The rally contains new stages this year with just one stage being the same as last year. On Friday, there will be an opportunity to express oneself on an untimed special stage in front of the spectators, Heikkilä explained.

Traditionally, Heikkilä has received a warm welcome from the crowds at Granada. This year, the tragic events in Toledo cast a shadow over the event.

-The event has been really well organized with big and passionate crowds. The atmosphere is warm, and people come to chat about the sport and take pictures. This year, I think the tragic events in Toledo will be visible in the event in many ways. It’s hard to imagine how many people a tragedy like that touches. I’m wishing peace and comfort during these difficult times to all those affected, Heikkilä said.

Rallye Ciudad de Granada is held 31st of October near the city of Granada. The event consists of eight special stages and 87,42 special stage kilometers.