Latvia will change into the thirty seventh nation to host a spherical of the FIA World Rally Championship when the WRC’s summer time of velocity continues with spherical eight of the season from July 18-21.
Whereas Latvia is a brand new addition to the WRC, its profitable long-term tenure within the FIA European Rally Championship – and its inclusion within the FIA World Rallycross Championship calendar from 2016-2022 – means it’s greater than accustomed to internet hosting high-level worldwide motor sport occasions.
Tet Rally Latvia takes place at an thrilling time for the FIA WRC – and for motor sport within the nation. Having completed in fifth place on his debut in a Rally1 automobile in Poland final month, 24-year-old Latvian expertise Mārtiṇš Sesks, who started competing at grassroots stage as a youngster, will sort out his house spherical of the world championship within the sport’s high class. After driving with out a plug-in hybrid unit in Poland with a view to adapt to his Ford Puma Rally1, Sesks will rely on hybrid energy for Tet Rally Latvia.
The occasion is actually a scaled-up model of the ERC-counting Rally Liepãja, which started life as a winter occasion in 2013 however turned higher often known as a pure gravel contest scheduled within the top of summer time.
Just like the earlier FIA WRC occasion in Poland and subsequent month’s spherical in Finland, Tet Rally Latvia makes use of fast-paced gravel roads with jumps and crests commonplace.
Latvia additionally follows Safari Rally Kenya, which befell in late March, by together with a stage in its capital metropolis with Rīga internet hosting the opening motion on Thursday July 17. The primary stage runs partly throughout the former FIA World RX venue at Biḳernieki Complicated Sports activities Base, as soon as an FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup venue.
With 5 totally different winners from the opening seven rounds and the championship’s high three 21 factors aside, the FIA WRC’s 52nd season is offering motion and leisure in abundance.
For Latvia’s first WRC look, official tyre provider Pirelli is offering its Scorpion KX gentle and exhausting tyres. The gentle compound is the primary alternative for cool and damp situations, whereas the exhausting compound choice is designed for heat and dry climate. Rally1 groups can use a most of 28 tyres for the occasion together with 4 for Thursday morning’s Shakedown.
TET RALLY LATVIA ROUTE IN SHORT
The primary Tet Rally Latvia to rely for the FIA WRC options 20 levels over a timed distance of 300.13 kilometres. The aggressive motion begins within the capital Rīga on Thursday July 18 with the 11.13-kilometre Biḳernieki Monitor stage from 20:05 native time.
Friday’s route takes crews from Rīga again to the town of Liepāja on the nation’s western Baltic coast by way of three single-use levels and two repeated levels round Talsi and the Tukums municipality, plus two Tyre Becoming Zones.
The city of Kuldīga, north of Liepāja, is the main focus of Saturday’s itinerary, which consists of 5 single-use gravel levels, one double-use sealed-surface run, plus the day-closing, Tarmac-based Liepāja Metropolis Stage.
Rally Latvia concludes on July 21 with two levels northeast of Liepāja and two levels southwest of the town. The 13.34-kilometre Mazilmāja check counts because the Wolf Energy Stage when it’s run for a second time from 14h15 native time. At 27.56 kilometres, the Tukums stage, held twice on leg one, is the rally’s longest check.
TET RALLY LATVIA DATA
Stage distance: 300.13 km
Complete distance: 1348.83 km
Variety of levels: 20
RALLY1 CONTENDERS
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Crew
The provisional WRC factors chief after seven rounds, Thierry Neuville is a newcomer to Latvia’s high-speed gravel roads. He’s joined within the Germany-based squad by fellow Latvian debutant Ott Tänak and Esapekka Lappi. Lappi, whose final WRC look in a Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid was on Safari Rally Kenya in March, is a earlier Rally Liepāja winner, albeit 10 years in the past when it ran as a winter occasion.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Crew
Adrien Fourmaux makes his first begin in Latvia on the again of claiming his third 2024 podium for the M-Sport Ford World Rally Crew in Poland. Crew-mate Grégoire Munster has three Rally Liepāja begins to his title, whereas Latvian Mārtiṇš Sesks, who upgrades to Hybrid energy for his second Rally1 outing, gained Rally Liepāja in 2022 and 2023.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Double Rally Poland winner Sébastien Ogier returns to motion after lacking ORLEN eightieth Rally Poland following an accident throughout reconnaissance. Kalle Rovanperä, who gained in Poland as a late stand-in for Ogier, returns to the setting of his first worldwide rally in 2017, the 12 months he gained the Latvian Rally Championship. Crew-mates Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta full the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid assault. Katsuta is the one different member of the Toyota quartet with earlier expertise of competing in Latvia to attract on.
SUPPORTING CATEGORIES
With 19 FIA WRC2 entries and 4 in FIA ERC3, the supporting classes on Tet Rally Latvia are usually robust in amount but in addition high quality.
Toksport WRT’s Oliver Solberg (Škoda Fabia RS) heads the WRC2 entry and made historical past in Latvia when he turned the youngest winner of an FIA European Rally Championship occasion aged 17 years, eight months and three days again in 2019.
Of the championship regulars competing in Latvia, it’s Sami Pajari (Toyota GR Yaris) who’s finest positioned within the provisional WRC2 standings following back-to-back wins in Sardegna and Poland.
Gus Greensmith (Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS) is one other WRC2 winner competing on Tet Rally Latvia, which marks Canadian skilled mountain bike rider Brandon Semenuk’s WRC debut in a Toyota GR Yaris.
Different WRC2 drivers embrace 2022 champion Emil Lindholm (Hyundai i20 N), Mikkko Heikkilä (Toyota GR Yaris), who steps up from FIA ERC, 2023 Junior WRC champion William Creighton (Ford Fiesta MkII) and his Motorsport Eire Rally Academy team-mate Josh McErlean (Škoda Fabia RS).
Turkish teenager Kerem Kazaz, an FIA ERC3 frontrunner, makes his WRC3 debut in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 18 years after his father and a number of nationwide champion Ercan contested his closing world championship rally. Jan Černý is the main WRC3 entrant.
Provisional factors chief Armin Kremer heads the WRC Masters Cup line-up.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Media accreditation
Media accreditation for Tet Rally Latvia have to be collected in individual by accredited move holders from the Accreditation Desk on the following areas:
In Liepāja: Location: Northern Breakwater, Atmodas bulvāris 21, Liepāja, LV-3414, Latvia (GPS: 56°33’27.3″N 21°00’08.8″E).
Media accreditation opening hours
Tuesday July 16: 14:00 – 20:00 hrs
Wednesday July 17: 10:00 – 20:00 hrs
Thursday July 18: 08:00 – 20:00 hrs
Friday July 19: upon request solely to janis@raevents.lv
Media Centre opening hours
Tuesday July 16: 14:00 – 20:00 hrs
Wednesday July 17: 10:00 – 20:00 hrs
Thursday July 18: 06:30 – 23:00 hrs
Friday July 19: 07:30 – 23:00 hrs
Saturday July 20: 08:00 – 23:00 hrs
Sunday July 21: 08:30 – 22:00 hrs
In Rīga: Location: Biķernieki Monitor, Sergeja Eizenšteina iela 16, Rīga, LV-1079, Latvia
Media accreditation and Media Centre opening hours
Thursday July 18: 14:00 – 20:00 hrs
Media actions and alternatives
| Monday July 15 | |
| 07:30 – 11:30 | Promotional actions for chosen P1, P2 and native drivers (Rīga Motor Museum, S. Eizenšteina str. 8, Rīga) |
| Wednesday July 17 | |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Photoshooting with Rally1 automobiles (drive in a convoy from SP) |
| 16:30 | Necessary Tabard Media Security Briefing (Roses Corridor, LOC, Brīvības iela 39, Liepāja) |
| 17:30 – 18:30 | Promotional actions for chosen P1, P2 and native drivers (Liepāja) |
| Thursday July 18 | |
| 07:31 – 09:00 | Shakedown for P1 drivers and invited P2 drivers (Grobiņa parish, 3.58 km) |
| 09:01 – 10:30 | Shakedown for P1, P2 and P3 drivers (Grobiņa parish, 3.58 km) |
| 10:31 – 12:00 | Shakedown for P2, P3 and non-priority drivers (Grobiņa parish, 3.58 km) |
| 10:30 – 12:00 | FIA WRC Media Pen for P1/P2 drivers and P1 Crew Principals (Service Park, Liepāja) |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | Promotional actions feat. Lappi, Neuville, Fourmaux, Sesks, Katsuta and Rovanperä (Riga’s Council Sq.) |
| 16:30 – 19:00 | Rally automobiles enter in Rīga pre-start holding space (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 16:50 – 17:00 | WRC Household Photograph for invited crews: all P1 crews and crews No. 39 and 41, and the co-driver of crew No. 23 (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | Autograph signing for all P1 crews and crews n°20, 39, 41 (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 17:30 | FIA WRC Meet the Crews for invited crews and staff representatives – see line-up beneath (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 18:00 | Opening ceremony (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 18:10 | Begin of Part 1 (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 18:30 | Passage management and rivals’ official picture (Monument of Freedom) |
| Friday July 19 | |
| 08:00 | Begin of Part 2, Parc Fermé (Rīga Council’s Sq.) |
| 12:45 approx. | Media Zone at TC4A (Regroup earlier than Tukums Tyre Becoming Zone) |
| 19:30 approx. | Media Zone at TC8A (Liepāja Service Park) |
| 20:45 approx. | FIA WRC Meet the Crews with P1 Crew Principals, High 3 drivers and Mārtinš Sesks (Service Park, Liepāja) |
| Saturday July 20 | |
| 07:00 | Begin of Part 4, Parc Fermé, Service Park, Liepāja) |
| 10:15 approx. | Media Zone at TC10A (Kuldīga Regroup) |
| 13:45 approx. | Media Zone at TC12A (Service Park, Liepāja) |
| 20:30 approx | Media Zone at TC16A (Service Park, Liepāja) |
| 21:00 approx. | FIA WRC Meet the Crews with P1 Crew Principals, high 3 drivers and Mārtinš Sesks (Service Park, Liepāja) |
| Sunday July 21 | |
| 08:10 | Begin of Part 8 (Parc Fermé, Service Park, Liepāja) |
| 10:15 approx. | Media Zone at TC18A (Vecpils autocross observe) |
| 14:05 approx. | Media Zone at TC20A (Rally end, podium holding space) |
| 15:15 | End Ceremony (Vecpils autocross observe) |
| 15:30 | Put up-rally FIA Press Convention (Vecpils autocross observe) |
(All instances native, approximate and topic to vary)
Media zones
Media Zones attended by all drivers and chosen staff representatives will function as follows:
TC 4A, TC 8A, TC 10A, TC 12A, TC 16A and TC 18A and on the holding space after TC 20A.
FIA Meet the Crews
FIA WRC Meet the Crews stay interviews and FIA Put up-event Press Convention broadcast on FIA and WRC social media channels.
FIA WRC Meet the Crews stay interviews, Rīga Council’s Sq., Thursday July 18
17:30 – FIA WRC Producer Crew Principals
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, François-Xavier Demaison (FRA)
Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT, Jari-Matti Latvala (FIN)
M-Sport Ford WRT, Richard Millener (GBR)
17:40 – FIA WRC Assist Championships
FIA WRC2 – Toksport WRT, Oliver Solberg (SWE), Škoda Fabia RS
FIA WRC2/FIA WRC2 Challenger – Gregor Jeets (EST), Toyota GR Yaris
FIA WRC Masters Cup – Mauro Miele (ITA), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
FIA WRC3 – Kerem Kazaz (TUR), Ford Fiesta Rally3
17:50 – FIA WRC Championship
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, Esapekka Lappi (FIN), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Elfyn Evans (GBR), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
M-Sport Ford WRT, Adrien Fourmaux (FRA), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
M-Sport Ford WRT, Mārtinš Sesks (LVA), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
FIA Put up-event Press Convention, Vecpils autocross observe, Sunday July 21, 15:30 hrs
High 3 drivers in total classification, profitable co-driver and consultant of profitable producer
Profitable drivers within the FIA WRC2, WRC2 Challenger, WRC3 Championships and WRC Masters’ Cup.
RALLY LATVIA MANUFACTURER ENTRIES
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Elfyn Evans (GBR)/Scott Martin (GBR) – #33
Sébastien Ogier (FRA)/Vincent Landais (FRA) – #17
Takamoto Katsuta (JPN)/Aaron Johnston (IRL) – #18
Kalle Rovanperä (FIN)/Jonne Halttunen (FIN) – #69
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) – #11
Ott Tänak (EST)/Martin Järveoja (EST) – #8
Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) – #4
M-Sport Ford WRT
Adrien Fourmaux (FRA)/Alexandre Coria (FRA) – #16
Grégoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Louka (BEL) – #13
Mārtinš Sesks (LVA)/Renārs Francis (LVA) – #22
TET RALLY LATVIA 2023 RESULTS*
1. M. Sesks (LVA)/R. Francis (LVA), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, 1h22m47.3s
2. H. Paddon (NZL)/J. Kennard (NZL), Hyundai i20 N Rally2, +41.4s
3. M. Østberg (NOR)/P. Barth (SWE), Citroën C3 Rally2, +1m04.0s
TET RALLY LATVIA RECENT WINNERS*
2023 Mārtinš Sesks/Renārs Francis, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
2022 Mārtinš Sesks/Renārs Francis, Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo
2021 Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov, Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2020 Oliver Solberg/Aaron Johnston, Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
2019 Oliver Solberg/Aaron Johnston, Volkswagen Polo GTI R5
*Occasion beforehand held as a spherical of the FIA European Rally Championship
