While Ulrik Linnemann grabbed the fastest time in Q1 behind the wheel of his VW Polo Supercar, Tommi Hallman had little to complain about after his own performance.

The Finnish driver posted the second-fastest overall time in the Open 4WD category, steering clear of the trouble that plagued Eriksson, McConnell, and Foust—all of whom fell victim to punctures.

“It was a pretty solid run, even if it wasn’t perfect,” Hallman acknowledged.

“The positive takeaway is that I finished as the fastest FC2 driver, so there’s definitely no reason to be disappointed. Quite a few drivers suffered punctures—the gravel section is especially rough. I played it safe through that part, and in the end, it paid off: no punctures for me. For the next heat, I’ll probably need to push a bit more, but still stay within a safe window.”

“There’s definitely still room for improvement. The car is working great, no issues at all, but I think I’m still being a bit too cautious in some sections. In others, I was sliding a bit more than I’d like. These are just small things to fine-tune, but we’re getting closer.”