Positive winter season behind the back

Winter season is now completed – Lauri Joona second in Finnish Championship points.

Photo: Toni Ollikainen

Lauri Joona finished fourth in the final race of the winter season in Riihimäki.

Joona heads into the summer season as second position in Finnish Championship points.

The third and final round of the Finnish Championship winter season was held on Saturday in Riihimäki. The race, which included 9 special stages was held in very challenging conditions due to the changeable weather. For the drivers there was a lot of mixed conditions which make the race difficult.

- This was not our race this time. We were already too slow in the first stage, other stages before the service we picked better rhythm but after the first service break the road surface got more loose and slush which make the driving really difficult from first positions. From the behind, guys take the advantage and drive faster.

We should have been more faster at the beginning of the day lamented Joona, who finished fourth in Riihimäki after the race.

Photo: Hannu Rainamo

Although the final race of the winter season didn't go exactly according to plan, Joona's return to the Finnish Championship has been quite successful. In previous races, Joona and co-driver Antti Linnaketo have driven 2nd (Mikkeli) and 3rd (Tunturi Rally), so at the end of the winter season, the position in the Finnish Championship points is a solid second place.

- The winter season was quite good overall. The Finnish Championship season started well in Mikkeli with a compact route and good conditions. Tunturi was a really great race and we were able to drive until the end, and in the last stage we managed to get to third place. The pace has been at a good level and at times we have challenged Esapekka Lappi quite well. Great races in all respects even though this last race was a bit weaker, sums up Joona's 2026 Finnish Championship rally season.

Photo: Hannu Rainamo

In addition to the Finnish Championship series, Joona and Linnaketo, who compete in the TGS Motorsport team with a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 car, participated in the Swedish World Rally Championship in February, which resulted in third place in the WRC2-Class.

- In Sweden we had good pace overall. We could have done better on the second run of the special stages. However, we made it to the podium and had a couple of fastest stage times, says Joona in his first World Championship rally of the season.

Lauri Joona's season will continue on Italian tarmac next.

- During "waiting time" in Finland it's important to still keep the rhythm of the driving and at the same time learn tarmac surface where I have clearly less experience. The Finnish Rally Championship points will be chased in next time in Imatra, at the end of May.

SM Auto Sorsa Riihimäki Rally

Final results / SM1 class

1. Esapekka Lappi, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, 57:44.8

2. Jaspar Vaher (EST), Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, +3.7

3. Patrick Enok (EST), Skoda Fabia RS +12.4

4. Lauri Joona – Antti Linnaketo, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +48.7

5. Takumi Matsushita (JPN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +1:39.1

Points / SM1 class, 3/7 races

1. Esapekka Lappi 75

2. Lauri Joona 45

3. Jaspar Vaher 26

4. Takumi Matsushita 24

5. Patrik Enok 22