Martell Set to Take on Secto Rally Finland
Following a tumultuous weekend of racing in Greece last month, Conner Martell and Alex Gelsomino are ready to tackle their second event in the 2026 WRC Season. Finland’s “Secto Rally” is one of the most historic rally races in the series providing high speed roads with no shortage of jumps. Finland is home to roads that are comparable to many events found in the American Rally Championship making this the perfect event to follow the rocky and arduous stages of WRC Greece “Acropolis Rally”.
Monday the duo partook in their “Pre-Event Test” with their team 2C Competition on a stretch of road that emulated the challenges this event will provide. Martell quickly fell into a rhythm with the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 Integrale doing run after run on the rain soaked surface. He had this to say about the race:
“Its a dream come true to be in FInland and rally here! I remember growing up and playing DIRT Rally and these stages were my favorite to do. The car feels really good and I feel very comfortable on these roads. They remind me more of American roads but have way more jumps and their own technical elements as some of the roads are crowned and you have to be careful on the exits. I have done a lot of preperation for this Rally and am ready to get redemption after our unfortunate end to the Acropolis Rally in Greece.”
Gelsomino had this to say :
“I’m very excited to be back at WRC Finland. I’ve competed in Finnish national events many times over the years, but this will be my first time back in Jyväskylä for the WRC event in 10 years. What better opportunity to return than with Conner and 2C Competition in the Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale. So far we have competed with the Lancia only on rougher conditions like the Acropolis Rally in Greece and the test leading to that. To finally be able to try the car on faster, smoother roads will give Conner and I more overall knowledge of the car and its potential moving forward. Finland is truly the spiritual home of rallying and I’m looking forward to Monday’s pre-event test, followed by two days of recce before taking on an event that promises to be one of the true highlights of our season.”
