RALLY FINLAND 2026: GIL MEMBRADO WINS JUNIOR WRC THRILLER ON FINAL STAGE
MEMBRADO OVERTURNS 3.2-SECOND DEFICIT TO BEAT LASSILA BY JUST 2.0 SECONDS FOR MAIDEN JUNIOR WRC VICTORY
Gil Membrado claimed his maiden FIA Junior WRC victory at Secto Rally Finland 2026 after producing a decisive final-stage comeback to defeat local driver Leevi Lassila by just 2.0 seconds.
Membrado started the final day with an 8.9-second lead, but Lassila overturned the deficit on the opening 30.02-kilometre Himos–Jämsä stage. The Finnish driver went 12.1 seconds faster to take a 3.2-second advantage into the final test.
MEMBRADO DELIVERS WHEN IT MATTERS
With the Junior WRC victory seemingly moving towards Lassila, Membrado needed to recover more than three seconds on the final Wolf Power Stage.
The Spaniard responded with the fastest Junior WRC time, completing the second Himos–Jämsä pass in 15min 11.921sec.
Membrado was 4.394 seconds faster than Ali Türkkan and a further 0.830 seconds ahead of Lassila, overturning the deficit to secure his first Junior WRC victory.
“This is just an incredible feeling. In the weeks before, my mind was stressed, thinking if I was good enough to win in WRC. But this means yes. I did a really good push and I’m really, really proud of myself.”
Lassila finished second after coming within one stage of a home victory, while Calle Carlberg completed the podium 1min 4.7sec behind Membrado.
TÜRKkan WINS MOST STAGES AS TITLE FIGHT TIGHTENS
Kerem Kazaz finished fourth in his Ford Fiesta Rally3, while Türkkan took fifth after a difficult weekend that included a Friday crash, a Saturday puncture and 20 seconds of penalties.
Despite finishing fifth, Türkkan recorded the most Junior WRC stage victories at Rally Finland 2026, taking eight fastest times.
Carlberg won four stages, Lassila three, Membrado two and Kazaz one.
The additional stage-win points kept the championship battle extremely close ahead of the final round.
JUNIOR WRC TITLE GOES TO CHILE
Carlberg remains at the top of the Junior WRC standings with 95 points, but Türkkan has closed the gap to just three points on 92.
Membrado's Rally Finland 2026 victory moves him to third on 71 points, followed by Lassila on 61 and Raúl Hernández on 36.
The FIA Junior WRC title will now be decided at Rally Chile Bio Bío, the fifth and final round of the season, where double points will be available.
KEY POINTS
• Rally Finland 2026: Gil Membrado claimed his maiden FIA Junior WRC victory.
• Membrado overturned a 3.2-second deficit on the final stage.
• Leevi Lassila finished second, just 2.0 seconds behind Membrado.
• Calle Carlberg completed the Junior WRC podium.
• Ali Türkkan recorded eight stage wins, the most of any Junior WRC driver at the rally.
• Kerem Kazaz finished fourth in a Ford Fiesta Rally3.
• Carlberg leads the championship with 95 points.
• Türkkan is second with 92 points.
• Membrado moves to third with 71 points.
• The Junior WRC title will be decided at Rally Chile Bio Bío with double points available.
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