Emil Lindholm close to the WRC2 title?

On paper, there were three of them who could win. Leader of the championship with 109 points, Andreas Mikkelsen still had every chance. The Norwegian, however, no longer had his destiny in his hands at all. Having already competed in the 7 races of his program, he was absent in Japan and had to “hope” for the withdrawal of the two other contenders to retain his crown. With only 6 points to go to overtake Mikkelsen, Emil Lindholm was in the best position. The Finn perhaps had the same score as Kajetan Kajetanowicz (104 points), but according to the regulations only the 6 best results being taken into account, his record was in fact 101 while that of the Pole was 96. With this margin by 5 units, the 26-year-old driver who has already won the WRC2 Junior title, was not under the absolute obligation to win. He could afford to score “only” 9 points. His position became even more comfortable when the three-time European champion went off the road during the first kilometers of SS2. Kajetanowicz was very unlucky as the stage was stopped and canceled just after his start due to the fire in Dani Sordo's car. The Pole was not sure he would be able to leave tomorrow and his team confirmed that they would have to wait for the Fabia to return to measure the damage. Leader since last night after his best time in SS1, Lindholm now has a clear path to the crown, but he will have to find the ideal pace. If before rally he asserted “ not feel any particular pressure and experience this ordeal like any other ", perhaps the prospect of becoming champion will create additional stress that he will have to manage.