Torrential rain tormented Heikkiläs home event

Mikko Heikkilä is eight in the WRC2 category after two competitive days in the Secto Rally Finland. The promising rally was flushed away by hard showers hitting the Finn on both Saarikas 2 and Sydänmaa 2, dropping the higher starting position driver back from the lead battle.

Mikko Heikkilä and co-driver Kristian Temonen are eight in the WRC2 category of Secto Rally Finland after two competitive days. Heikkilä’s strong start to the event was washed away due to heavy rain hitting the TGS Motorsport Skoda driver, who was running behind his main rivals in the event with the number 42.

Heikkilä’s Friday set off well with a third fastest time on Laukaa 1 which elevated the Finn into P2 in category. Heikkilä held the position for most of the morning loop, but the clouds were forming going into the afternoon leg.

The heavy shower came just in time for Heikkilä to begin the Laukaa 2 stage. The Finn lost 45 seconds on the stage, and even though a great recovery run on the following Saarikas 2 stage elevated the Finn six positions in the standings, another heavy shower hit the Skoda driver on the Sydänmaa 2 stage dropping the Finn to eight position in category.

- We always have the best kind of luck it seems. I got a feeling in the morning that since there was rain forecasted that as soon as we start the stage, the rain will start to fall, and unfortunately it manifested. Our performance on the stage was as good as you could drive in those conditions, but I have never experienced that hard rainfall, Heikkilä lamented.

- In Saarikas 2 the road was muddy and wet, but we caught the pack quite well. Then, in Sydänmaa 2, as soon as we got into the start zone, the heavy rainfall returned and lasted all the way until finish, but as soon as we were giving out the time card, the rain ended. At least we didn’t get wet in the liaison. It’s unbelievable the luck we have.

Saturday contains 125 special stage kilometers, this time in sunny conditions. Heikkilä’s situation is challenging with the gap to the front.

- We will think together with the team how we proceed, but we are heartbroken. We’ve lost this rally entirely due to no fault of our own, Heikkilä said.

Secto Rally Finland continues on Saturday, 1st of August in Jyväskylä, Finland. The rally is shown live via Rally.tv streaming service.

WRC2 standings after SS 10/20:

1. Robert Virves (EST)              1:06:56,1         Skoda

2. Roope Korhonen (FIN)       +13,5                 Toyota

3. Teemu Suninen (FIN)          +40,8                 Toyota

4. Patrick Enok (EST)                 +41,9                 Skoda

5. Lauri Joona (FIN)                  +47,8                 Skoda

8. Mikko Heikkilä                     +1:05,3             Skoda