The road to Rally Liepāja was very different for all three Latvian drivers – Liepāja native Mārtiņš Sesks has already demonstrated his skills on the global rally stage, and will try to use his home rally knowledge of the roads to his advantage. Reinis Nitišs, having just moved to rallying from rallycross, is working on learning the finer nuances of the discipline, while Ainārs Igaveņš has used this opportunity to return to the stages after a long time away from competing.
“Actually, the break was not that long. Soon we realised that it is crucial to keep yourself fit, as season could resume any moment. We did not know when it will happen, but we knew – once it does, we have to be at our best. Thus, we managed to go through a very intensive training programme, improving physically and studying theory as well. Since May, I have also done a lot of kilometres in the rally car,” Mārtiņš Sesks comments his preparation. “I believe that everyone who competes in European or World Championship is very serious about racing, and I doubt that other drivers spent this time completely away from racing. Rally Liepāja results will show who has been working hard and who has not.”
While preparing for the Junior World Championship, Mārtiņš has registered for the front-wheel drive ERC3 class, in which, two years ago, he became European Champion right here in Liepāja, doing so in ERC Junior U27 class.
“I believe that we are ready, but I still have to work on some of the finer details, as after this break I occasionally make some small mistakes which add up to cost me time at the end of the stage. Our main objective here is to be precise and grow our confidence on our local stages. I think that it will be the key to a good result.”
This is my home rally, so I am always thrilled to compete here. Each year, the organizers show that they are definitely among the best in Europe. Fans always give me additional energy. I hope that the most active spectators will not have forgotten that we love seeing them at the stages and that their support is much appreciated,” adds Sesks, who will start with Renārs Francis, navigating Ford Fiesta Rally4 car.
Two-time European Rallycross Champion Reinis Nitišs will also be competing in ERC3 class, having already competed in events in Finland, Estonia, and Lithuania this summer. “We have spent a bit more time in a rally car recently – both, training and competing. Step by step we increase our pace and I understand more and more nuances of this discipline. For sure there is still a lot I need to work on – writing pacenotes, hearing pacenotes, as well as understanding and seeing the road. I have an idea on how fast Mārtiņš and other Rally4 drivers will be here and my goal is to get closer to them as possible, and, hopefully, on some stages fight for the top positions,”
Reinis will also be competing in a Ford Fiesta Rally4. He will be co-driven by Andris Mālnieks, with whom he has worked with previously, but rallying is now a much higher priority: “This will be my fifth time in Rally Liepāja, but the stages are always different, and I have started during different weather conditions and different cars. Previously, I competed to stay in shape, and for Latvian fans. Now, everything is more serious. I have a different approach, attitude, and goals. In Lithuania I proved that I can be fast, and now I have to keep that speed throughout the rally, as well as stay away from mistakes, – then it should be Ok,” concludes Nitišs.
Despite his significant experience, it turns out that Ainārs Igaveņš will be making his debut in the European Championship, which has long been a dream of his: “Since 2007, my team has had customers and rally went from a hobby to a business. Now, because of the coronavirus, my customers cannot get to events, so this was an opportunity to compete myself. We decided that if we do compete, it should be in a large and significant event. I have been thinking about getting back to driving for quite some time. I have worked with Zelindo Melegari and Dmitry Feofanov [ERC2 class drivers, also competing in Rally Liepāja]. They kept asking me – hey, when will you get out and compete against us? If our customers from Spain and Russia could come, I would not be able to compete, but – here I am, competing this weekend!”
Igaveņš will compete in an ERC2 class Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, and will be co-driven by Ralfs Igaveņš. “In this event, I will be competing alongside my son Ralfs. He has learned a lot from Urmas Roosima, and keeps on learning the right way. And we managed to combine both, a hobby and a learning process. If Latvia was a bit richer, we would have even more fast drivers. When customers from Spain ask me how many people live in Latvia, they are surprised to hear that there are only two million of us, not twenty million, considering how many talented drivers we have here.
I will never forget an occasion in Rally Liepāja, when our team was represented by Siim Plangi and Alexey Lukyanuk, and Lukyanuk was a bit late going from the service park to time control. Knowing this, Siim held up the line to clear the road for Alexey. Instead of pushing Alexey on the sidelines, Siim risked getting a penalty by letting him past. Seeing this camaraderie inside the team was incredible. These moments make me happy as a team manager. Rally is not just about fighting for the fastest times, it is also about being human.”
Of the three Latvians competing, Ainārs is the most experienced. His first time competing in Rally Talsi was all the way back in 1998. Since then, both as a competitor and team manager, he has seen the incredible added value of such an event. “The organizers here do an incredible job. It is clear that rallying is loved in Latvia, and it was great to see that we are at such high a level that we almost managed to get a spot in the WRC calendar. The Latvian government should also understand what an amazing addition these events are. I have travelled through Europe and Latvia is very well known. If we calculate how much money is brought into the country from abroad thanks to rally and rallycross, I believe that the organizers should be thanked for the amazing things they have done,” concludes Ainārs Igaveņš.
Rally Liepāja itinerary
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
21:00 COMPETITORS’ PARADE / Liepāja
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
12:20 SS 1 TALSI / Garlene (24,82km)
13:20 SS 2 SWECON / Andumi (17,45km)
15:20 SS 3 SC GRUPA / Mundigciems (20,36km)
16:20 SS 4 RAMIRENT / Strazde (25,54km)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
10:00 SS 5 LIEPĀJA / Vecpils 1 (16,45km)
10:30 SS 6 Canon Biznesa Centrs-IB Serviss / Mazilmāja (12,06km)
11:40 SS 7 SIXT Rent a car / Paplaka 1 (18,11km)
14:40 SS 8 Invest in Liepaja! / Vecpils 2 (16,45km)
15:10 SS 9 PAFBET / Tebra (6,48km)
16:15 SS 10 NESTE / Paplaka 2 (18,11km)
Rally Liepāja spectators’ guide is available on lvrally.com.
Rally Liepāja tickets are available HERE.
We would like to remind spectators that this year it will not be possible to buy tickets at the entrance of the special stages, so you should make sure to get them in advance at one of the Biļešu Serviss locations in Latvia or online. Also, before heading out to the stages, make sure to visit one of the ticket exchange points, where you can exchange your Biļešu Serviss bought ticket for a wristband. You will not be allowed to enter a stage without a Rally Liepāja wristband.
FIA European Rally Championship event Rally Liepāja is possible thanks to the support provided by the Latvian government, rally city of Liepāja, as well as the Talsi region. We would like to thank our sponsors Neste, Pafbet Score, Ramirent, and SC Grupa, our car rental partner Sixt, as well as supporters Canon Business Center - IB Serviss, Liepājas Olimpiskais Centrs, Pafbet, and Swecon. Informative support is provided by news media DELFI and media partners JCDecaux Latvija, Kurzemes Vārds, Sporta Avīze, Talsu Vēstis, and Zebra. The rally would also not be possible without Rally Liepāja friends: Baltic Taxi, Flora, FN Serviss, Fristads, Jānis Pūce, Latvijas Pārtikas Ražotājs, Lofbergs, MB Grupa, Meža Dārzs, Red Bull, SignTech, Sportland, and Törley. Rally Liepāja is organized with the support of Aizpute, Durbe, Grobiņa, and Priekule region councils. A special thank you goes out to the Latvian Automobile Federation.
All news and information about Rally Liepāja is available online at www.lvrally.com, as well as on social media – Twitter @LVRally, Facebook /LVRally, draugiem.lv /lvrally, YouTube /RallyLiepāja, and Instagram /lvrally.
