There’s an unwritten rule in motorsport that the winner of a championship’s chief support category should, by rights, earn their place in the top tier the following season.
Rallying hasn’t always rewarded drivers so, although in recent years WRC2 champions in 2024 (Sami Pajari) and 2023 (Andreas Mikkelsen) have moved up to the Rally1 category thanks to success in Rally2.
Spare a thought, then, for Emil Lindholm. WRC2 champion in 2022, there was no Rally1 drive for the Finn in 2023. Signing for Hyundai midway through that season as part of its so-called ‘driver development programme’ unlocked hope that that chance may be on the horizon, but it hasn’t transpired.
From beating Mikkelsen to the WRC2 title to barely registering as a footnote in the same category two years later, Lindholm’s no longer the talk of the town. Which, to an extent, suits him.
“To be honest, I never enjoyed publicity in the first place, so I’m happy to be under the radar!” he laughs.
“But yeah, personally, I’m obviously not happy with the [2024] season, that goes without saying. And for sure, driving is nice, but I’m quite driven by results, so to not have any is… is tough.”
What’s happened to Lindholm? And what are his opportunities for the future? DirtFish had an open and honest chat with him to find out.
Why it’s all gone so wrong
Results have been hard to come by for Lindholm in an i20 N Rally2
Judging Lindholm’s career trajectory purely on paper reveals a worrying tale: no WRC2 wins, not even podiums, since he became champion in 2022.
But as always, paper doesn’t factor for context. And Lindholm has plenty of it.
The Hyundai move in the middle of 2023 should’ve been what propelled his career, but realistically it was never going to accelerate his WRC2 performances. Giving up a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 wouldn’t be a choice most drivers would make if no factors beyond pure performance were considered.
And Lindholm’s not alone in struggling in 2024. Both he and team-mate Teemu Suninen struggled with the ‘works’ program shuffled to CHL Sport Auto; Lindholm scoring just 10 points, Suninen managing none.
“I think, as in any sports at as high of a level as the WRC, it’s a combination of so many factors that need to all be right,” Lindholm tells DirtFish. “Of course I’m one of those factors, but it’s so difficult to get everything finally to go and work together.
“And that’s what I think has failed this year. The performance of the car, for instance, was becoming strong in the end of the year. And we were able to, let’s say in Rally Finland, to be not exactly where we wanted to be speed-wise, but anyhow close to winning stages when it was all going smoothly.
“So for sure, I’ve done my share of mistakes, that’s clear, but it’s a team sport and the full package needs to be there. So it’s a shame it’s not… it’s never as simple to put it together, but I think that’s what’s not been perfect this year.”
Ultimately, Lindholm is still the same championship-winning driver he always was. Yes, many could point to Mikkelsen’s misfortunes in 2022 with two mechanical DNFs while leading and then that famous mistake on the opening superspecial in Greece, but Lindholm kept his head in that scenario while his far more experienced rival didn’t.
“I totally agree that we had our share of luck that year,” he reflects.
“It’s fair to say that if you take away his crash on the superspecial, he was faster during the rally. But then again, we had like a minute margin on Saturday afternoon so we were not in any case like… we didn’t have to go 110% like Andreas. So, yeah.”
In short, Lindholm hasn’t lost any belief that he can still cut it at the top.
Lindholm is sure he still has what it takes to be a frontrunning driver
“I might be stupid in believing,” he laughs, “but I still think that since we managed to be on top in the past, it should mean that hopefully I haven’t become a worse driver.
“That’s kind of what keeps me going, is the belief that Reeta [Hämäläinen, co-driver] and me, we are still able to perform on top in this sport.”
Was the Hyundai move a mistake?
Lindholm pauses to think about the question.
“I think that was the only logical decision to make with the information we had back then, so no,” he offers.
It’s genuinely impossible to know if the 28-year-old would be any better off had he still been driving a Toksport Škoda, but hindsight is a cruel mistress. And after all, the Hyundai switch was made because of the potential to get in a Rally1 car – which Lindholm has actually done, albeit not competitively.
Lindholm has driven the Rally1 car in rollout sessions, but never against the clock
“Hyundai is for sure a top team – they have a Rally1 program in-house and a lot of resources,” Lindholm continues.
“And I’m really happy to have been able to work more with the whole team, to work with the Rally1 project as well, with the rollouts, some small testing. And I’ve learned a lot, actually.
“I’ve driven it on the test ground, which is close to Frankfurt. As you know, the teams are allowed to do these kind of rollouts on a specified test area. So, yeah, I’ve driven the car there. I’ve driven more than 10 times there and really what I think has been super interesting is to see how they work, what topics they focus on, how they set up the car.
“That is, I think, worth a lot. So I think that’s really the big positive for me from these rollouts.”
Naturally, Lindholm yearns to drive it in anger.
“I mean, I think it’s fair to say that, as I already mentioned, the reason why we went to Hyundai was to… well, they had the possibility to drive a Rally1 car,” he says.
“So yes, it’s been in discussions. It’s been on the table. But yeah, I mean, it’s tricky and it hasn’t happened. But as I said, I haven’t given up on that topic. I’m still pushing for it.”
What happens next?
Lindholm is staring at an uncertain future, at least in the top class
Lindholm expects to be able to announce his 2025 program soon, but the likelihood is a WRC2 campaign with Hyundai once more.
“Difficult to say what exactly what the program will be, but that’s the target. And I hope for some Rally1 drives as well,” he smiles.
But where does Lindholm exactly stand in the queue? Pajari was only a bit-part WRC2 player when Lindholm won the title and has already usurped him with a full Toyota Rally1 program in 2025.
Does that create a problem for Lindholm?
“Genuinely I’m happy for him,” he insists. “He’s done a fantastic job in Rally2, winning the title with Toyota, the first year for Toyota in WRC2. It’s a big thing. I mean, it’s not easy to bring a new car into WRC2 and win.
“I mean, in one way, Sami is now there. He’s there with Toyota. He will do the full season. So, I don’t see him taking anything away from me immediately and honestly, as you said, we’re focused on our job, focused on making sure that we can have a good season next year and be back delivering results.
“As I said, I’m happy for Sami. It’s good to see a Finnish driver again in Rally1 that’s for sure.”
Of course the other way to look at it is Pajari’s performances when handed controls of the Rally1 Yaris last year prove that less experienced drivers can jump in these cars and perform – which can only help Lindholm’s case.
“Actually, that’s very much true,” Lindholm agrees. “That’s what I keep saying is that I think both Mārtiņš Sesks and Sami proved that coming from Rally2, you are still able to do a good job in Rally1. It doesn’t mean that you need to be there for five years before you can deliver.
“So I think it proves the level of Rally2, because I think a few years ago there was still discussion that WRC1 is so much more competitive than WRC2, but I think the gap has closed.
“And I think Sami shows that – that you can immediately, in your first rally, do a stage win when you come from WRC2.”
The glass is very much half-full in Lindholm’s eyes. He may not enjoy the limelight but he needs attention placed back on his career, and he knows the only way to do that is to start producing the results again.
“For sure I’m hopeful,” he concludes. “I’m for sure pushing for a better season this year and to be back, to be able to compete for good positions is my number one priority.”
