Heikkilä kicked off his WRC2 campaign with a podium

Mikko Heikkilä has finished third in the WRC2 category in the 72. Rally Sweden. After struggling with oversteer on Friday, Heikkilä finished the event as the fastest Skoda-driver winning a total of three special stages.

Finnish rally driver Mikko Heikkilä and co-driver Kristian Temonen have finished third in the WRC2 category in the 72. Rally Sweden. Kicking off his 6-round WRC2 campaign with a podium, the TGS Motorsport driver was the fastest Skoda on the snowy stages of Umeå.

Heikkilä’s rally got off to a difficult start as the Finn struggled with oversteer on Friday ending the day in fourth place. Changes made in the night’s service had an immediate impact, as the Finn won the opening stage of Saturday and lifted himself up to third in WRC2 before the final day.

On Sunday, the Skoda driver started the day just like Saturday – by winning the opening stage. Heikkilä was still running third before the last stage of the rally.

-On the first stage the beginning felt slippery and I couldn't get the feeling to push, but the grip got better as the stage progressed. On the second stage I think we had a bit too much pressure on the tires, and unfortunately seeing a fellow competitor in the snow banks might have had an impact as well, Heikkilä analyzed.

On the rally-ending Power Stage Heikkilä took it easy bringing home third biggest points tally, leading the Skoda line-up in the finish.

-We opened the season with good points. For sure, I would have wanted to be a step or two higher, but after our struggles on Friday this is a good result. A big thanks to TGS and Skoda for the help with the setup, after that it was amazing to drive, and the times were on par with the top. If it wasn’t for Friday we would have been up there, but overall, the weekend was more on the positive side for sure, Heikkilä summed up.

Next up, Heikkilä tackles the WRC Portugal on 15th to 18th of May. Heikkilä has competed in Portugal once before, in 2023, when the Finn rose to the eyes of the rallying world on his full-time ERC debut.

-It’s going to be something new to learn again, it’ll be nice to see how the Hankook tires are on gravel. The tires worked well here overall, and it was really good to drive once we found the right setup, Heikkilä thanked.

Rally Sweden results in WRC2:

1. Oliver Solberg                       2:42:02.3        SWE         Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

2. Roope Korhonen                  +42.5               FIN            Toyota GR Yaris Rally2

3. Mikko Heikkilä                      +1:08.3             FIN           Skoda Fabia RS Rally2

4. Lauri Joona                          +1:43.9             FIN           Skoda Fabia RS Rally2

5. Isak Reiersen                       +3:03.4             SWE         Skoda Fabia RS Rally2