WRC, Sportrik Media - Emil Lindholm heads into his second World Rally Championship appearance of the 2026 season at Rally Islas Canarias, with a primary focus on tyre management and adapting to the demanding characteristics of high-grip asphalt stages.
The Finnish driver, competing for Toksport WRT with support from Skoda Motorsport, began his WRC2 campaign in Croatia, where multiple punctures compromised his performance, resulting in a seventh-place finish in class. The outcome underlined the importance of consistency and technical control early in the season.
Ahead of the Canarias round, Lindholm has relied on previous experience and a recent test session on Gran Canaria to refine the car setup. Adjustments have been targeted at reducing front tyre load and mitigating overheating issues encountered in prior events.
“There are no major changes compared to last year. With small details, we tried to reduce the stress on the front tyres, which had overheating issues,” Lindholm explained.
“In testing, we managed to find a better balance with the car.”
The asphalt stages in the Canary Islands are often compared to circuit racing conditions, offering high grip but placing significant demands on tyre temperature control. Lindholm emphasised that maintaining stable tyre temperatures will be critical for sustaining performance across stages.
“The front tyres are heavily stressed in this rally. Keeping their temperature stable is key,” he noted.
However, the challenge extends beyond pure performance factors. The rally’s mountainous terrain introduces rapidly changing weather conditions, where dry stages can quickly transition to damp or wet surfaces, complicating tyre strategy and setup decisions.
“Even if it’s sunny in one area, it can be wet or raining in the mountains. If it’s dry, hard compound tyres are really the only option,” he added.
Lindholm also encountered difficulties during reconnaissance, with heavy traffic disrupting the process of creating pace notes. Congestion on special stages limited preparation efficiency and introduced an additional layer of complexity.
“There was a lot of traffic on the stages, which made our job difficult. At one point, we were making notes in a queue of cars behind a bus,” he said.
“It’s a significant challenge for everyone.”
Despite these issues, Lindholm remains optimistic about the event, highlighting the quality of the roads and the overall driving experience.
“The feeling is good. We will drive some of the best asphalt roads of the season, and it’s a really enjoyable rally.”
Rally Islas Canarias 2026 begins with a shakedown and an opening stage in Las Palmas before continuing through the weekend. From an analytical perspective, Lindholm’s performance will depend on his ability to manage tyre degradation, adapt to variable grip conditions, and maximise pace note accuracy despite compromised reconnaissance.
The event represents a critical opportunity for Lindholm to build momentum in the WRC2 standings, while also testing his technical adaptability in one of the most demanding asphalt rallies on the calendar.
Baca Juga
Sami Pajari incar kemenangan pertama di WRC Canarias 2026 setelah podium di Kroasia, dengan Toyota kembali dominan di lintasan aspal.
Toyota kuasai shakedown WRC Canarias 2026 dengan Oliver Solberg tercepat, ungguli Ogier dan Evans, Hyundai tertinggal di sesi pembuka.
Thierry Neuville usulkan perubahan besar format WRC termasuk reli sprint, endurance, dan pendekatan baru untuk menarik pabrikan serta penonton.
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