Lindholm heads to Mexico with an eye to the future

As the defending champion in the premier support category, Lindholm got his campaign off to a rocky start at last month’s Rally Sweden, finishing seventh after dropping almost two minutes with an off into a snowbank.

But he's not letting that slow him down as he gets ready for Mexico - the first long-haul rally of the season - which takes place from 16 - 19 March. It will be the 26-year-old’s first time competing in North America, and he goes there with one eye on the future.

“It’s one of the rallies which is on the calendar most year. I think it’s good to go and do it, to get the experience for the future,” he said. “And, besides that, it’s a really nice rally - the atmosphere is always good out there.

“I have only done maybe seven or eight of the 13 rallies which are on the calendar, and I need to explore the other ones more.”

That exploration could prove beneficial over the coming years as Lindholm aspires to become a top-flight Rally1 driver in the near future.

“That’s the target. I mean, we wouldn’t be here otherwise - there would be no point it at this level of commitment!

“Last year was only our second full season in WRC2, so we are still quite young. We still need to do some more, and I think this is the way to do it. To go into WRC unprepared would not end well - I think we’ve seen this in the past.”

Having driven a new Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 in Sweden, Lindholm and co-driver Reeta Hämäläinen will revert back to a Fabia Rally2 Evo in Mexico for logistical reasons.