HEIKKILÄ TAKES MAIDEN ERC WIN AFTER DRAMATIC SWEDISH GRAVEL FINALE

SUNINEN CRASH LATE HANDS FINNISH DRIVER BREAKTHROUGH VICTORY AT BAUHAUS ROYAL RALLY OF SCANDINAVIA

• Mikko Heikkilä secures first career win in the FIA European Rally Championship

• Late retirement for Teemu Suninen reshapes final stage battle

• Mārtiņš Sesks and Isak Reiersen complete podium after intense fight for second

• Drama unfolds across final stages as leaders falter under pressure

Mikko Heikkilä has finally broken through for his maiden victory in the FIA European Rally Championship after a chaotic and incident-filled conclusion to the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, where late mistakes and mechanical damage reshaped the final classification on Swedish gravel.

The Finnish driver, co-driven by Kristian Temonen and competing in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, inherited control of the rally when long-time contenders fell away in the closing stages, before sealing the win on the final 7.91-kilometre Ölme Power Stage.

EARLY LEADERSHIP SHAKEN BY HIGH-SPEED INCIDENTS

The rally had been controlled early by Estonian youngster Jaspar Vaher, who led through 11 stages after an impressive start in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. However, his challenge ended abruptly on SS12 following a high-speed crash that caused significant damage and removed him from the lead fight.

That incident opened the door for a Finnish duel at the front, with Teemu Suninen taking over the lead by 4.8 seconds ahead of Heikkilä with four stages remaining.

Suninen briefly extended his advantage after the midday service, going 0.6 seconds faster on SS13, but the gap remained tight as conditions continued to punish even the slightest error.

HEIKKILÄ STRIKES BACK UNDER PRESSURE

Heikkilä responded on SS14 despite suffering right-rear tyre damage near the stage finish, setting the fastest time to reduce Suninen’s lead to just 2.8 seconds heading into the final two stages.

The battle appeared to swing again on SS15, with Suninen looking stronger on split times, but the decisive moment came 1.8 kilometres from the finish when the Racing Factory driver crashed out, immediately handing the lead to Heikkilä.

From there, the Finnish driver controlled the final Power Stage to secure victory by 15.7 seconds.

“It’s pretty good to be honest. We have been trying to get this for quite a long time. It’s been a long weekend, fighting, fighting to get the tenths of a second and hard competing all the time. The result is this, actually this was the target, and we can be really happy now.”

PODIUM BATTLE DECIDED BEHIND THE LEADERS

Behind the winner, Mārtiņš Sesks and home favourite Isak Reiersen engaged in a long-running duel for second place. Sesks, running MRF tyres, ultimately edged ahead of the Hankook-shod Swedish driver after consistent pressure throughout Sunday.

Reiersen’s challenge was impacted by contact with a rock on SS12, but he continued fighting until the finish despite increasing time loss.

Reigning Junior ERC champion Calle Carlberg secured fourth place, finishing ahead of teammate Patrik Hallberg after Hallberg suffered a costly flat tyre on the Power Stage, which ultimately forced retirement due to tyre allocation limits.

MIDFIELD RECOVERY DRIVES AND FINAL POSITIONS

Simone Tempestini finished fifth ahead of 2025 event winner Eyvind Brynildsen, who recovered from 22nd after Friday’s Qualifying Stage left him with an unfavourable road position. Despite the setback, Brynildsen climbed back to sixth through a strong recovery drive.

Defending ERC champion Miko Marczyk also delivered a notable charge from 20th after SSS1 to finish seventh, continuing his reputation for steady recovery performances.

Further back, Joosep Ralf Nõgene gained positions late in the rally, moving ahead of Fabrizio Zaldívar on SS15 before overtaking Brandon Semenuk on the Power Stage to secure eighth place, leaving Semenuk ninth and Zaldívar tenth.