Heikkinen, the 2013 Global Rallycross champion in the USA, charged through to the six-lap final in his 600bhp Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar following an impressive display in the knockout stages.
The ace Finn beat his Marklund Motorsport supported by Volkswagen team-mate Anton Marklund to fourth having diced with eventual winner Petter Solberg in the opening laps of the sun-baked final.
After completing the heats fourth in the points, the 23-year-old qualified for the final after taking second spot in his semi-final. He took his joker lap on the lap five of the final in what was his first appearance for the Swedish Marklund team and his first time driving the new-for-2014 Polo RX in competition.
”Make no mistake, this was a promising weekend and I have to be happy to be third in the overall points at the start of this exciting new adventure,” said Topi. ”My Volkswagen Polo RX Supercar has a lot of potential and I’m confident that there is much more to come from the car but also from me. After Petter Solberg got ahead of me at the first corner of our semi-final it was all about securing my place in the final. I made good start from the second row in the final but I was unable to match Petter’s speed. The Fords took the joker lap at the start and I tried to push to gain enough of a gap for my own joker lap. I took my joker on the second to last lap but the Fords passed me and I finished fourth.
Top continued: ”After the heats on Saturday we changed the gear ratios to try to find some more speed for the long main straight as some of my rivals seemed to have more speed. But the balance of the car was good all weekend and to be fourth after the heats was not so bad at all.
”Before the World RX of Great Britain I know my team will be working hard to find even more performance from the car. The race is at Lydden Hill and, like Montalegre, that’s another new track for me. But I’m excited by the challenge and I can’t wait to compete in front of the British fans, especially if they’re as passionate and enthusiastic as what we experienced in Portugal this weekend.”
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
