Leppihalme looking for another win, the Finn is ready to fight for the top spot in the French ERC round.

Jussi-Petteri Leppihalme is feeling relaxed and happy ahead of next weekend’s ERC round. The 19-year-old from Parkano in Finland took the first victory of his career in the opening event at Lydden in England, and now he is aiming to achieve the same result at Dreux in France. “The win gave me more confidence and composure. Now I don’t have to worry about claiming that important first ever win anymore. In a good way I am feeling kind of relaxed,” says Leppihalme before leaving for France.

This is the second ERC season for Leppihalme in the front-wheel driven Super1600 class. His car is a Renault Clio Mk2 of the Set Promotion team. “The car is very reliable. Now I can go to every race aiming for the victory. I will have the same attitude wherever I start,” says Leppihalme who currently tops the S1600 overall standings. Leppihalme managed to do two days of testing at the Dreux track recently. The track is tight and flat. “It’s not a very fast track. I think we did about 100 laps in spring. I have counted that on a normal race weekend you will do about 30 laps, so the amount of test laps done was very good,” emphasises the young Finn. The French ERC event will be  spiced-up by local drivers who will be competing for French domestic championship points. This year there are an amazing 47 drivers on the list for Leppihalme’s class. The six fastests drivers from the qualifying heats will make it straight to the A final, where the two winners of the B final will join them to comlete the grid for the last and decisive eight cars race.

Image caption: “Juspe” Leppihalme (Renault Clio Mk2) on his way towards victory in ERC Round 1 at Lydden Circuit. © JKR/ERC24