The second ERC event of the season takes place on the gravel roads around the city of Veszprém, Hungary. The rally features 13 special stages, with a total competitive distance of 190 kilometres.
Korhonen will compete in the ERC gravel rounds this year with support from tyre manufacturer MRF. Ahead of his ERC debut, the Finnish driver had the chance to test the Indian company’s tyres.
“We completed our first kilometres on MRF tyres, and the feeling is really high. It’s definitely a good rally tyre. We tested two different compounds and made some small setup changes – we’re ready for the rally,” Korhonen confirmed.
Korhonen has his sights set high, despite the strong competition in the ERC. One of his rivals will be Citroën driver Mads Østberg, a former WRC rally winner.
“The podium is the minimum target, but if everything clicks, we’ll try to fight for the win,” said Korhonen, who drives a Toyota Rally2 car.
It’s a packed rally schedule for Korhonen this May. Last weekend, he competed in a national rally in Portugal before heading straight to Hungary. After the ERC round, the Finnish hopeful will return to Portugal for next week’s WRC round.
Korhonen’s teammate Tuukka Kauppinen will also be competing in Hungary, but in the ERC Junior category. After a run of asphalt rallies, Kauppinen now returns to his more familiar surface and is considered one of the favourites in his class for the Hungarian gravel event.
Kauppinen will contest the rally for the second time in Lancia’s new Rally4 car, which he tested before the second round of the ERC.
“Testing went well, and we drove in rally-like conditions, as the roads were in pretty rough shape. We did some adjustments and drove all day without technical issues, so that gives us good confidence,” Kauppinen summarised.
Although still young, Kauppinen has plenty of gravel rally experience – but European events are quite different compared to what he’s used to in Finland.
“The gravel is different here, but it still feels more natural to me. The last couple of rallies didn’t go well, so now the aim is to finish and gain experience,” Kauppinen explained.
“This is the kind of rally where, in this class of car, you won’t make it to the finish if you’re flat-out all the time. But we’re feeling good and looking forward to our first gravel rally abroad.”
