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16-01-2016 08:19
Rally Liepāja winners to be decided on a city stage around the Great Amber concert hall
First round of the 2016 FIA European Rally Championship, Rally Liepāja, will consist of 13 stages, covering a total of 207 stage kilometres, and will take place on the Liepāja and Kuldīga region roads. The rally will conclude with a city stage in the centre of Liepāja, at footsteps of its newest culture symbol – the Great Amber concert hall.
Rally Liepāja will begin on Friday, February 5, with the qualifying stage, starting position selection for the top 15 crews and the ceremonial start. The first six stages of the 2016 FIA European Rally Championship will take place on Saturday, February 6, on the Kuldīga region roads, with the day containing not only the longest stage of the rally (SS3/4 Neste Oil at 25.14 km), but also a stage taking part in the twilight – SS6 Kuldīga 2, set to begin at 16:15. The event will continue on Sunday, February 7, when the best European drivers will compete on the roads of Liepāja region. There will be seven stages, one of which will take place on legendary roads of Vecpils – “golden fund” of Latvian rally. To determine the winner, the crews will return to Liepāja and compete on the final city stage around the Great Amber concert hall. After finishing the racing part of the event, drivers and spectators are welcome to the Great Amber for the awards ceremony.
“For the last few years, we have been working together with the city council to make it possible for the fastest European drivers to compete not only on the Liepāja region roads, but in the city as well. A few months ago, the construction of the Great Amber concert hall was finished, so I am especially proud that we will be able to bring the winter rally into the city this year. The most important stage of the rally – the final one – will take place around the Great Amber concert hall and, via Eurosport media group, will be shine on millions of TV screens around the world!” Rally Liepāja organiser, RA EVENTS director Raimonds Strokšs.
Rally Liepāja special stages:
| No. | Name | Distance | Start time |
| QS | Qualification stage | 4,57 km | February 5, at 15:15 |
| SS1 | Kuldīga 1 | 9,78km | February 6, at 9.30 |
| SS2 | Castrol Edge 1 | 21,68km | February 6, at 10.05 |
| SS3 | Neste Oil 1 | 25,14km | February 6, at 10.40 |
| SS4 | Neste Oil 2 | 25,14km | February 6, at 14.40 |
| SS5 | Castrol Edge 2 | 21,68km | February 6, at 15.30 |
| SS6 | Kuldīga 2 | 9,78km | February 6, at 16.15 |
| SS7 | Vivus.lv 1 | 11,33km | February 7, at 9.30 |
| SS8 | Liepāja Iedvesmo 1 | 12,32km | February 7, at 10.00 |
| SS9 | NPK Expert | 23,05km | February 7, at 10.30 |
| SS10 | Vivus.lv 2 | 11,33km | February 7, at 13.35 |
| SS11 | Liepāja Iedvesmo 2 | 12,32km | February 7, at 14.05 |
| SS12 | Blue Shock Race | 23,05km | February 7, at 14.35 |
| SS13 | Great Amber | 1,15km | February 7, at 16.30 |
2016 will be the fourth year in a row with Rally Liepāja as part of the FIA European Rally Championship. In this, the sixty-fourth season of the championship, the Latvian round will open the season and will be the only event in which crews drive on studded tyres. Rally Liepāja tickets, which will let spectators attend both days of the event, are available in several locations in Liepāja, Kuldīga, Saldus, Talsi and Rīga, as well as online at http://autorally.lv, at a price of 25.00 EUR.
We would also like to remind you that all the news and other information about Rally Liepāja is available on the official website www.lvrally.com and on social media Twitter @LVRally, Facebook /LVRally, YouTube /RallyLiepāja and Instagram /lvrally.
FIA European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja is possible thanks to the support of the Latvian government and the rally city of Liepāja. We would also like to thank our sponsors Neste Oil, NPK Expert, Blue Shock Race, Vivus.lv, our partner Kuldīga city, as well as supporters Baltijas Helikopters, Canon ibServiss Rīga, Castrol, Liepājas Olimpiskais Centrs and SweCon. Informative support is provided by the official news portal DELFI and media partners StarFM, FHM, Go4Speed, JCDecaux, Kurzemes Radio and Zebra. Rally Liepāja would also not be possible without our rally friends: Dardedze, FN Serviss, Guard Systems, Holography, Jānis Pūce, N&J, Liepājas Datoru Centrs, Ramirent, Red Bull, SignTech, Skrīveru Saldumi, Venden and Törley. A special thank you goes out to the Latvian Automobile Federation.
Jānis Unbedahts. Photo: liepaja.lv