This is the duo’s first podium finish in the ERC with Step Five Motorsport. Although the driver from Nurmijärvi has often been close to both the podium and victory, this success in Sweden marks Heikkilä’s first ERC podium since the Latvian ERC rally in 2022.
It is also the first podium for co-driver Temonen in the ERC.
It’s nice to drive a rally with no issues again. Everything worked perfectly; team, car, tires, everything worked so well. Besides two slight issues with the pop-off valve,” Heikkilä summarized.
“We had a trouble-free rally, and our pace was dictated by my own pace. Also the tightest rally I’ve ever driven, the margins were always zero point something, and we had to push at 100% all the time,” Heikkilä continued.
Heikkilä started the competition cautiously, being only the 16th fastest in the spectator special stage. Strong stage times on Friday lifted the Toyota driver to third place after the midday service. During Friday evening and Saturday, Heikkilä solidified his position in third in the extremely tight competition.
On the final Power Stage, competitor Hayden Paddon suffered a puncture, elevating the Finnish driver to the second-highest podium spot. The last stage provided plenty of drama, as ERC leader Mathieu Franceschi, who was battling Heikkilä for third place, crashed his car.
“If it was up to me, we should have finished third. I don’t care much for last stage punctures at all, and I feel sorry for Hayden, and for Mathieu Franceschi too for what happened in the last stage. It’s no shame to be third fastest behind Oliver (Solberg) and Hayden, they are both world-class drivers, and Oliver was also driving on his home roads,” Heikkilä said.
Having switched to the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car for this season, Heikkilä tested diligently and successfully before the Swedish round, and the hard work paid off. The focus is now on upcoming competitions, including the Estonian ERC rally and the Rally Finland.
“The car was flawless and finally it felt like I could push it how fast I ever wanted to. A big thank you to Toyota engineers Felix, Lewis, Steffan, and Owen, they helped us out a lot for this rally. A massive thanks to Step Five Motorsport for the car and Michelin for tires, everything played out perfectly on their part, as well as all my cooperation partners for making this possible,” Heikkilä expressed his gratitude.
“In three weeks, we continue the ERC in Estonia with the same goals. We aim for the podium and as high as possible. The ERC is very competitive, and the level is high, so you can’t succeed here with minimal effort,” Heikkilä concluded.
Mikko Heikkilä’s season continues before the Estonian ERC rally with the fourth round of the Italian gravel rally series, the San Marino Rally, on June 21-22.
