Lindholm just wants to have fun on WRC return

Sebastian Lindholm just wants to enjoy himself when he comes out of retirement to contest Neste Oil Rally Finland from 2-4 August.

The 51-year-old Finn hasn’t competed in the WRC since a one-off drive with the defunct Suzuki squad on Wales Rally GB in 2007.

He will compete in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC alongside co-driver Timo Hantunen but insists he’s not targeting a strong result on the high-speed gravel rally.

“I just wanted to do Rally Finland one more time and be at the finish,” said Lindholm, who scored points on 12 of the 37 world championship rounds he started. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a few years now, the opportunity came up so I thought why not? My only aim is to have fun and enjoy myself. The result is not important.”

Lindholm, who combines his time overseeing the competition careers of sons Emil and Axel and working as Michelin’s Finnish importer, has never driven a new-generation World Rally Car before but plans to cover approximately 40 kilometres during a pre-event test.

“I have a lot to learn and, at my age, I think I’m brave doing this,” he said. “The last World Rally Car I drove was the old type, a Suzuki [SX4 WRC], although I have driven some Super 2000 cars. I also need to remember how to make and listen to pace notes and when you haven’t been on the Finland stages [since 2005] you really don’t remember them.”