“I am extremely grateful to say that our hard work as a team has been highly valued and appreciated, and that Latvia has been given an opportunity to keep an event in the European Championship calendar! It is also important to mention that the Latvian round will take place on gravel, giving us an opportunity to use unique solutions in organising the rally, therefore providing a completely new experience for the spectators who will come out to watch the powerful R5 class cars in action!

I would like to thank the Latvian government, Liepāja and Kuldīga local governments, as well as our rally partners for the great collaboration in these past few seasons, which has led to an opportunity to keep this event in Latvia for at least three more years. One of our goals, set before the very first European Championship event here in 2013, has been achieved – it did not take a whole lot of time to see a Latvian crew, Ralfs Sirmacis and Artūrs Šimins, competing in the most powerful class, giving local fans someone to cheer for throughout the season. I wish them to use every advantage that a “home” event can provide on their way to a fantastic victory here in Liepāja! In addition to that, I would like to encourage other rally drivers to keep striving toward their goals, and hopefully we will see other Latvian crews fighting for the European champion’s title soon!” RA EVENTS director Raimonds Strokšs.

“We’re delighted to confirm the extension of our contract with Rally Liepaja for a further three years. It has brought a unique dimension to the FIA European Rally Championship since joining as a snow rally, and we are sure that it will be just as spectacular when it runs as a gravel rally next month. For the future, it will retain a gravel slot, but the professionalism and adaptability of this event has already proved to be second to none. The decision to extend the contract was easily taken as a result of the quality of the stages, the importance of the Baltic region to the championship, and the excellence of the organising team. Together, we look forward to a bright future of rallying in Latvia.” FIA European Rally Championship general coordinator Jean-Baptiste Ley.

“Eurosport’s decision to continue collaboration in organising a FIA European Rally Championship event in Latvia is a very welcome one in Liepāja, which has decades long rally history and tradition. For the last four years, Liepāja has served as a home base for this rally, thereby strengthening its name in the European and world motorsports life. “Rally Liepāja” has become an eagerly awaited event in the city, bringing an economic contribution to Liepāja and the whole Kurzeme region, and increasing worldwide recognition of the region for millions of fans who follow both our event and the whole championship!” Liepāja council chairman Uldis Sesks.

We would like to remind you that the first FIA European Rally Championship event in Latvia, Rally Liepāja-Ventspils, took place from February 1 to 3 of 2013. The event was won by Finns Jari Ketomaa / Kaj Lindström. Starting from 2014, name of the rally was changed to Rally Liepāja, and the event programme has included stages on both Liepāja and Kuldīga region roads.

Rally Liepāja was planned to be a winter rally in 2016, set to take place from February 5 to 7, but, due to uncharacteristically warm weather, the event was moved and will instead take place from September 16 to 18. Please remember that the tickets bought to the winter event will also be valid in September. For those who have not yet bought tickets, they are available in Tourism information centres in Liepāja, Kuldīga, Talsi and Saldus, as well as in several locations in Rīga and the official online shop www.easyshop.lv.

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, the provider of official cars Autobrava, 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, easyshop.lv, FN Serviss, Grandeg, Guard Systems, Holography, Jānis Pūce, N&J, Liepājas Datoru Centrs, Ramirent, Red Bull, SidusNet, SignTech, Skrīveru Saldumi, Venden, Veselīgas Uzkodas, and Törley. A special thank you goes out to the Latvian Automobile Federation.

Jānis Unbedahts, RA EVENTS. Photo: fiaerc.com