Mārtiņš Sesks ©Red Bull Content Pool
Following the conclusion of the previous three-year cooperation with “Pirelli”, an open tender was announced for the next three-year period, in which “MRF Tyres” submitted the highest-value offer. In accordance with the regulations of the Latvian Rally Championship (“LRC”) regulations, from now on, only crews that will race with tyres manufactured by “MRF Tyres” will be able to receive points for the LRC overall standings. Thus, starting the new season, participants in winter rallies will have the opportunity to choose between “ZGi” series tyres of sizes 195/70R15 and 175/75R15, which will be equipped with 7 mm long studs. Meanwhile, in summer gravel rallies, the choice will be between medium compound “ZG3” series (also used in the FIA European Rally Championship) tyres of sizes 195/70R15, 185/70R15 and 175/70R15.
The cooperation and the change of the control tyre supplier have three important aspects. First, not only a fixed, but also lowest possible tyre price will be set for LRC competitors to make participation in the rallies as affordable as possible. In addition, “MRF Tyres” will also provide assembly service during rallies, as well as tyre engineer, thus facilitating the participation of crews in competitions.
Secondly, “MRF Tyres” will provide commercial support, which will allow to continue and expand the promotional activities of the Latvian Rally Championship. Including, valuable prizes for LRC registered crews – a new set of tires – for the fastest crew in the LRC1 classification or the fastest crew in the overall standings. Within the framework of the initiated three-year cooperation, “MRF Tyres” will provide the fastest crews with a prize fund, the value of which will exceed 15 000 euros.
Thirdly, let us emphasize that, as per suggestion of "MRF Tyres", significant changes will be made to the way junior rally crews are supported, providing them with separately defined additional funding, more information about which will follow in the near future.
Mārtiņš Sesks ©Red Bull Content Pool
“First of all, I would like to thank “Pirelli”, with whom we spent three exciting seasons together, introducing the control tyres for all competitors, which allowed to equalize the balance of crews in special stages. At the end of this period of cooperation, the LAF Rally Commission announced a new tender and decided to switch the control tyre supplier, which will henceforth be “MRF Tyres”. Having reviewed all the received offers, there were three in total, it was the offer of the Indian tyre manufacturer “MRF Tyres” that allowed to ensure the lowest possible tire price for our championship participants, as well as the highest possible commercial support for further promotion of the Latvian championship’s recognition and increase in the number of participants. Thus, making the Latvian Rally Championship an even more exciting place, where you want to race!” said Raimonds Strokšs, head of the LAF Rally Commission.
“We are delighted to become the Control Tyre supplier for the Latvian Rally Championship. Latvia has a strong tradition in rallying and is an important market in the Baltic region. This agreement reinforces our commitment to motorsport worldwide and reflects our strategy of supporting national championships alongside our international programmes. We look forward to working closely with the organisers, the teams, and the drivers to ensure a successful partnership over the next three years,” commented Arun Mammen, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of “MRF Tyres”.
Mārtiņš Sesks ©Red Bull Content Pool
We would like to point out that the cooperation with “MRF Tyres” will apply to the crews registered for the Latvian Rally Championship, which will compete in the Latvian Rally Championship classification groups 1/4/6 and the Latvian Rally Cup classification groups 2/3/5/7. The choice of tyres for the competitors of the Latvian Rallysprint Cup and the Latvian Historic Car Rally Cup will continue to be the free and rests upon the crews themselves.
Considering the financial impact of the change of the control tyre supplier on the competitors’ budgets, the LAF Rally Commission and “MRF Tyres” have agreed that transitional rules will apply to the first round of the 2026 LRC season, i.e. rally “Alūksne” – the crews registered in the LRC will be able to compete and score championship points with both – previously acquired “Pirelli” tyres and newly purchased “MRF Tyres” tyres. Moreover, LRC registered crews participating in the first round of the Latvian Championship, will be provided with a special price – a 100-euro discount for up to six tyres, if those are used during rally “Alūksne”.
In case of any clarifying questions, participants are invited to contact a representative of the “MRF Tyres” tyres distributor: e-mail information@mrftyres-baltic.com.
