Mikko Heikkilä is running fifth after the first day of the WRC Arctic Rally Finland. Two special stages and 61.1 special stage kilometres were driven.
On Friday’s first stage Heikkilä drove the fifth fastest time, losing 19.5 seconds on the 31.05 kilometres long SS1 – Sarriojärvi 1.
-We overshot a junction and we needed spin the car around and lost time there. Other than that it was ok, we drove safely. It was quite slippery and I couldn’t get a proper rhythm going.
The same stage was driven again in the evening as SS2 – Sarriojärvi, this time in darkness. The roads were grooved considerably after the first running of the stages earlier during the day.
-This time we didn’t spin, but I was too careful. Tires began to lose their grip closing in on the finish and it was quite slippery due to it. I think we were a bit too afraid of the tires losing grip, we should have pushed a bit harder. It’s not too common to drive in a gravel groove with an R5 car and we were careful to stay in them. But the grooves were the same to everybody.
Heikkilä is currently fifth in the WRC3 category after two special stages, 34,9 seconds behind the class leader Emil Lindholm.
-I have to be a bit disappointed in this day. The pace isn’t up there. We need to try to go faster and focus on precise driving tomorrow.
On Saturday 27th of February six special stages will be driven with a total of 144 special stage kilometres. First stage, SS3 Mustalampi 1, starts at 9:08. Spectators aren’t allowed on the event.
Friday’s results in WRC3:
SS1: Sarriojärvi 1 31,05 km
| Emil Lindholm | 16:50.4 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo | |
| Teemu Asunmaa | 16:56.8 | +6.4 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo |
| Johan Kristoffersson | 17:03.2 | +12,8 | SWE | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 |
| Egon Kaur | 17:03.8 | +13.4 | EST | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 |
| Mikko Heikkilä | 17:09.9 | +19.5 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo |
| Eerik Pietarinen | 17:10.3 | +19.9 | FIN | Skoda Fabia R5 |
SS2: Sarriojärvi 2 – 31,05 km
| Emil Lindholm | 16:48.5 | FIN | Volkswagen Poli GTI R5 | |
| Teemu Asunmaa | 16:53.0 | +4.5 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo |
| Egon Kaur | 16:56.4 | +7.9 | EST | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 |
| Eerik Pietarinen | 17:02.3 | +13.8 | FIN | Skoda Fabia R5 |
| Mikko Heikkilä | 17:03.9 | +15.4 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo |
| Johan Kristoffersson | 17:12.5 | +24.0 | SWE | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 |
Overall results after SS2/10 in WRC3:
| Emil Lindholm | 33:38.9 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo | |
| Teemu Asunmaa | 33:49.8 | +10.9 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo |
| Egon Kaur | 34:00.2 | +21.3 | EST | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 |
| Eerik Pietarinen | 34:12.6 | +33.7 | FIN | Skoda Fabia R5 |
| Mikko Heikkilä | 34:12.6 | +34.9 | FIN | Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo |
| Johan Kristoffersson | 34:15.7 | +36.8 | SWE | Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 |
WRC Arctic Rally Finland schedule:
Saturday 27.2.
| 07:50 | Service B | Santasport | |
| 09:08 | SS3 | Mustalampi 1 | 24,43 km |
| 10:38 | SS4 | Kaihuavaara 1 | 19,91 km |
| 12:08 | SS5 | Siikakämä 1 | 27,68 km |
| 14:05 | Service C | Santasport | |
| 15:38 | SS6 | Mustalampi 2 | 24,43 km |
| 17:08 | SS7 | Kaihuavaara 2 | 19,91 km |
| 18:38 | SS8 | Siikakämä 2 | 27,68 km |
Sunday 28.2.
| 09:00 | Service E | Santasport | |
| 10:08 | SS9 | Aittajärvi 1 | 22,47 km |
| 13:18 | SS10 | Aittajärvi 2 (Wolf Power Stage) | 22,47 km |
Mikko Heikkilä Racing online: