Sitting atop the intermediate standings after Q2, Anton Seppa made it clear that his strong performances in Latvia last month were no fluke.
After clocking the fastest time in the opening free practice session, the young Finnish driver saw his momentum briefly interrupted by a puncture during Saturday morning’s timed practice. But he bounced back in style, sending a strong message to his rivals with a fourth-best time in Q1 and a second-place finish in Q2. Those results place him in a tie for the provisional lead alongside fellow Finn and reigning RallyX champion Joni Turpeinen.
“This is a really positive dynamic,” Anton said. “Racing at home changes everything, and the atmosphere is just on another level. Honestly, the energy around this event is incredible.”
That energy was amplified by the presence of many supporters and partners trackside.
“We’ve brought in a lot of new partners this year, and many of them are here this weekend. It’s the perfect opportunity to show them how our setup works in real conditions and to prove what we’re capable of. Plus, I’m seeing way more familiar faces here than I do at any other race.”
Beyond the sporting challenge, competing just a few kilometers from home appears to have elevated Seppa’s performance.
“We also launched a line of fan merchandise, and the response has been fantastic—sales have far exceeded our expectations. There’s something special about racing on home soil. And I really have to say, I love this new circuit. Everything just clicks.”
Indeed, the KymiRing layout made an immediate impression on the driver.
“The track is simply outstanding. It’s our first time racing here, and it offers a really complete mix: dramatic elevation changes, high-speed sections, tight technical gravel corners… and an incredible jump—probably the most spectacular I’ve encountered since I started racing. Word is we got some serious airtime today, and I loved every second of it. The main straight is blazing fast—we’re touching 200 km/h. It’s been a really great day, especially since we ended up on top of the leaderboard and will be starting from pole tomorrow.”
Mission accomplished, even if the battle remains incredibly tight.
“That was the goal from the start: to go for the top step of the podium and bring home the biggest trophy. That said, the competition is fierce. We’re tied on points with Joni Turpeinen”
A thrilling showdown between two of the weekend’s standout drivers, made all the more remarkable given neither had a chance to test on the circuit beforehand.
“What makes this performance even more satisfying is that neither Joni nor I had the opportunity to train here before the event. Some other drivers did, but even so, the home-field advantage seems to be real—we’re clearly benefiting from it today.”
From a technical standpoint, everything has gone to plan.
“Everything’s working perfectly. The team has done an outstanding job with the car. We had a small issue during free practice this morning with a puncture but that was mostly my own mistake. Aside from that, everything has gone smoothly. Hopefully, we can keep this level of performance going tomorrow.”