After one of the most remarkable progressions in the RallyX championship – from 21st overall in 2023 to his first top 5 finish in 2024 – young Finnish driver Alex Anttila is determined to build on his success next season and consolidate his status as a top contender.
Last year, Anttila showed impressive consistency, qualifying for five finals and finishing fifth in the championship between Carl Svedlund and fellow Finn Niko Kinnunen.
A level of performance he hadn’t quite expected.
“To be honest, I’m surprised by my results in 2024,” admits the Edge Chassis driver.
“Before the season started, my goal was simply to finish in the top 10, but everything changed at the first race at Tierp when I realised that I had the speed to compete with the best. I quickly adjusted my ambitions and set my sights on a top 3 finish. Going into the penultimate round of the season in Denmark, that goal was still within reach, but a race incident over the weekend dashed my hopes.”
Indeed, in the four remaining races of the 2024 season, Anttila only managed to qualify for the final once.
“The following week in Germany our car wasn’t in perfect condition, which affected my confidence and consequently my driving. Later, when we returned to Finland, we discovered that one of our rear shock absorbers was completely bent. In the end, we simply lacked the luck to finish higher than fifth.”
In addition to his fifth place in the RallyX championship, Anttila also confirmed his progress with an identical result in his national championship.
“Even though I did a solid preparation for the 2024 season – focusing on my physical condition – I believe that the key to my improvement came from the Huuhka Motorsport team, and Timo Laapotti in particular. He helped me not only to fine-tune my car but also to develop my driving skills. We approached each race with a clear objective, which allowed us to improve efficiently.”
“I also changed my mindset, learning not to dwell on mistakes during a race and to focus solely on my driving. I’m very analytical, so after each race I review my onboard footage to identify mistakes I might not have noticed during the race – and work on not repeating them.”
After his impressive development between 2023 and 2024, Alex Anttila enters the next RallyX North championship season with ambitious goals.
“My clear goal is to finish in the top 3 of the championship and to reach the final of every round in 2025.Last year my consistency allowed me to close the gap to the leaders and I’m confident that I can compete with Hampus Hagström and Olliver Sollie. The junior category is extremely competitive, with many drivers capable of fighting for the same second on a flying lap. Reaching the top 3 won’t be easy, but it’s a challenge I’m up for – and I’ll give it everything I’ve got to achieve it”
