The Flying Finn has only competed at the Lydden Hill Race Circuit in southeast England once before but he proved at the season-opener in Montalegre that he’s a fast learner on a new track after he finished a fine fourth in the final to take third in the title standings.

”Before the start of Portugal, nobody really knew where everyone else was at, but now I think there is more of an idea of what to expect,” said Topi, the reigning Global Rallycross champion and X Games gold medalist. ”We know we have a competitive car but also we know that there are other areas where we can still improve. I think Lydden should really suit our car, perhaps even more than Portugal, because it’s a really fast and flowing track. You need a good engine, which we’ve got. Most of all I’m really looking forward to being in Britain because people are so passionate about the sport. Britain is really the home of rallycross: the first round of rallycross that ever took place was in Britain. So I love that whole history side to it too.”

As well as season-long team-mate Anton Marklund, Topi will be joined in the Marklund Motorsport team by American motorsport ace and TV presenter Tanner Foust, who has a strong record of success at Lydden having won there twice in the past.
”It’s nice to have Tanner to race beside me and Anton,” said Heikkinen, 23. ”We raced as team-mates at Ford for two years in GRC. He is a really nice guy and an excellent racer.”

Heikkinen will start the Lydden Hill weekend in a positive frame of mind. Not only is he firmly in the title fight, eight points behind Montalegre winner Petter Solberg, his Polo RX Supercar has been subjected to a handful of tweaks to improve its performance. The Finn is also hoping to squeeze in a test before he takes to the track in anger.

”Hopefully I can drive a bit before we get to Lydden,” said Topi. ”We have some ideas about the general direction we can go in with development, but really as much time as we can get in the car is good. After the first time in competition, we have a really good focus on what we are doing.”

Since Portugal, Topi has enjoyed some free time and concentrated on preparing himself for Lydden. ”A bit of fitness work, a bit of relaxation, and some time seeing friends,” is how he puts it. And it all adds up to ensure that Joensuu’s biggest motorsport hero is ready for any challenge that comes his way.

Provisional World RX drivers’ standings (after round one of 12):

1 Petter Solberg 29 points
2 Reinis Nittis 24
3 Topi Heikkinen 21
4 Andreas Bakkerud 20
5 Timur Timerzyanov 19
6 Anton Marklund 18