Latvians Finally Win at the Jubilee Rally Sarma

On February 15, 2025, in the roads of Gulbene Municipality, the 50th anniversary of the traditional winter Rally Sarma was celebrated with a victory by Emīls Blūms and Didzis Eglītis. As expected, the rally was full of intense battles and spectacular moments, witnessed by a large crowd of spectators. Knowing that for the past fifteen years, foreign drivers had claimed victory in the overall standings of Rally Sarma, this time, from the very start, Latvian crews set the pace, creating a thrilling competition that surprised many rally fans.

What Rally Sarma 2025 Spectators Need to Know

Rally Sarma has been delighting athletes and spectators with exciting battles on the rally track for fifty years. It is a winter rally and has always been one, but winters vary, special stages change from year to year, and the lineup is never the same – that’s what makes it exciting. This year, Rally Sarma 2025 will open the Baltic Sea States Rally Championship and continue the Latvian Rally Championship, the Latvian Rallysprint Championship, and the Latvian Historic Rally Car Championship. One thing is clear: this year, Latvians have a great chance to win the Rally Sarma overall classification for the first time in fifteen years. However, attending a rally, especially a winter rally, requires preparation. That’s why the organizers of Rally Sarma have compiled important information for every rally visitor.

Exciting Battles Await at Rally Sarma 2025

Rally Sarma 2025, set to kick off in Gulbene on the evening of February 14, promises thrilling battles not only for the overall victory but also in every competition class. The main focus will be on the fight for the overall win, as no Latvian rally crew has managed to claim victory at Sarma since 2010 when Ivars Vasaraudzis last won. Given the unpredictable Baltic winter weather and the rescheduling of the rally to a weekend that coincides with the Swedish Rally, several strong foreign crews have opted out of Sarma, creating an opportunity for Latvian drivers to compete for the overall win.

Dans Leščs ar pārbūvētu un uzlabotu BMW plāno aizvadīt pilnu LRČ sezonu

Rallijā ''Sarma'' pēc ilgāka laika rallijā atgriezīsies trīskārtējais Latvijas rallija čempions Dans Leščs, kurš ar stūrmani Jāni Vīksnu startēs ar BMW 323 (285 ZS, 360 NM). Savu karjeru viņš uzsāka 2002.gadā, bet 2004.gadā ar ''Opel Kadett'' kļuva par savas klases čempionu. 2006. un 2007.gadā, braucot ar ''Honda Civic Type-R'', Dans izcīnīja vēl divus čempiontitulus. Savas aktīvās gaitas rallijā Dans noslēdza 2008.gadā. 2016. un 2017.gada sezonās liepājnieks atgriezās rallijā, bet kopš tā laika sportists piedalījies tikai vienās sacensībās – 2024.gada minirallijā Karosta.

Rallijā 'Sarma' ar pirmo starta numuru trasē dosies E.Blūms/Eglītis

14. - 15.februārī Gulbenes pusē norisināsies Latvijas Rallija čempionāta (LRČ), Rallijsprinta kausa (RSK) un Vēsturisko rallija automašīnu kausa (VRK) 2.posms, kā arī Baltijas jūras rallija čempionāta (BSRC) atklājošais posms, rallijs ''Sarma''.

Rally SARMA 2025 opening

The Rally Sarma 2025 organizers preparing roads - The rally will happen!

With winter returning to the Gulbene region and forecasts predicting consistently low temperatures in the coming weeks, the Rally Sarma 2025 organizers are actively working on preparing the roads for the event. As soon as the frost set in, the roads were compacted and levelled to ensure smooth and race-ready special stages. Additionally, an exciting agreement has been reached - on February 15, the 50th-anniversary edition of Rally Sarma will also feature SSV class participants with their fast and dynamic buggies.

The start of the Rally Sarma 2025 postponed by one week

The organizers of the traditional winter rally Sarma 2025, after evaluating long-term weather forecasts, have decided to postpone the event, originally scheduled for February 7–8, to its backup dates – one week later. As a result, the second round of the Latvian Rally, Rallysprint, and Historic Rally Championships, as well as the opening round of the Baltic Sea Rally Championship, will now take place on February 14–15. Organizers hope that by then, weather conditions will improve, ensuring optimal conditions for the competition.

Sirmacis: Šis mums pēc tādas pauzes bija ļoti labs rezultāts, pats esmu pārsteigts

Pēc četru gadu pauzes pie pilnpiedziņas stūres rallijā atgriezās Ralfs Sirmacis, kura stūrmanis bija Armands Bite. Rallijā Alūksne, startējot ar "Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII", ekipāža izcīnīja trešo vietu absolūti un otro klasē. Klases uzvarētājiem Emīlam Blūmam/Didzim Eglītim Sirmača ekipāža, kura pirmajā ātrumposmā pamanījās nopelnīt desmit sekunžu sodu, zaudēja tikai 5,65 sekundes.

Decision on running dates of Rally Sarma to be made on 30 January

Official Statement from Rally Sarma Organizers: "We are actively monitoring the latest weather forecasts to determine if and when winter will return. We have decided to make and announce the final decision on Thursday evening, January 30, regarding whether the rally will start on February 8 or be postponed to February 15."

Rally Sarma 2025 to open the Baltic Sea Rally Championship for the Second Consecutive Year

The traditional winter rally, Sarma 2025, will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with competitions during the second weekend of February. For the second consecutive year, it has been included in the Baltic Sea Rally Championship calendar as the opening round of the championship. Simultaneously, the event will continue to host rounds of the Latvian Rally Championship, Rallysprint Championship and Historic Rally Car Championship. Additionally, participant registration has already begun since the end of last week, with the first entries already received.

Rally Sarma will celebrate its 50th anniversary in February

On February 7 and 8, 2025, the traditional winter Rally Sarma – one of the oldest continuously running rallies in the Baltics – will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Especially interesting speed stages have been chosen for the rally in the winter capital - Gulbene district. A special novelty will be the city super special stage!