Bottas Claims stage win in WRC and finishes 5th overall

Valtteri Bottas has finished 5th overall and has won a stage in the World Rally Championship Arctic Lapland series. 

The Mercedes driver had a tough year in 2018 and it looks as if he has spent some time in rally racing to clear his head. The Finn was competing against Finnish Championship racers in the Arctic Lapland series and had some success whilst driving the Ford Fiesta. 

After a slow start, Bottas was left near the lower end of the standings but managed to climb his way back to fifth. The Silver Arrow was even able to claim a stage victory on the short 2.17-mile Mantyvaara stage. Bottas beat Henrik Pietarinen by 2.3 seconds. 

The Finn took to Twitter to show how much fun he had in the rally car saying that there were some 'tricky and enjoyable stages.' 

Bottas will hope that this stint in Rally racing will re-spark his Formula 1 career and that he can prove his critics wrong in 2019.

We finished my first ever rally 5th overall with a stage win today

Tricky & enjoyable stages, so much fun @arcticlaplandrally Thanks to all the partners, @MSportLtd , @RautiainenTimo and everyone involved #VB77 @Konecranes @WestproCCOy @AKKMotorsport @pirellisport pic.twitter.com/eIC00hDkBI

— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) January 26, 2019