On the second day Neikšāns was building a gap between the closest follower Vorobjovs, and in the last stage Vorobjovs had to find extra 8 seconds to even up and had to push very hard if he wanted to win. Neikšāns did not expect him to do that so he was taking it easy without a risk of making a mistake, but in the SS 10 Vorobjovs was flying and at the finish line won the rally by only 3.74 seconds.

„I understood from the very beginning that the fight for winning this rally is to be expected with Neikšāns, but considering the results of the first stage I thought that also Ostberg will engage in the rivalry. Before the last stage we where 8 seconds behind Neikšāns and set the target to outpace him, so we drove at full throttle and gained a great victory in a keen competition. Thanks to organizers for the high-quality rally, which I estimate with the highest valuation”, after winning the Champions’ Cup says Jānis Vorobjovs.

The WRC driver Mads Ostberg also participated in the Rally of Champions, and in Talsi he drove the N4 class Mitsubishi Evo X prepared by the „MML Sports”. The results of the first stage were promising as the Norwegian for the first time covered the section well-known to local drivers only two seconds behind the leader, but in the second stage due to the gearbox damage Ostberg was forced to stop on the second stage. „I like this rally. Fast and interesting roads as well as good rally organization and fierce competition. It is a pity that I did not have the possibility to fight for a victory, however I hope that I will return here,” says Ostberg, who spend the second day of the rally aside of the track observing the performance of other rally participants.

„Rally Talsi 2012” overall results
1.J.Vorobjovs G.Zicāns (N4) 56:03.54
2.A.Neikšāns P.Dzirkals (N4) +3.74
3.K.Koitla A.Ots (N4) +36,95

N4 class
1.J.Vorobjovs G.Zicāns 56:03.54
2.A.Neikšāns P.Dzirkals +3.74
3.K.Koitla A.Ots +36,95

A + class
1.M.Svilis A.Aizsilnieks 57:03.64
2.D.Matijošaitis M.Čepulis +2:37.92
3.E.Hermanis D.Vāne +2:58.00

R4 ieskaite
1.J.Feldmanis A.Jesse 58:22.25
2.D.Butvilas R.Vaitkevičius +39.76
3.V.Gryazin A.Kuzmich +1:23.21

R2 class
1.R.Sirmacis M.Kulšs 1:04:25.87
2.M.Ķenavs A.Innus +28.93
3.K.Nebars G.Berķis +32.51

2WD class
1.D.Myachin K.Buzius 1:04:47.20
2.V.Galkin O.Krylov +2:01.79
3.G.Klemencis M.Gaspažiņš +2:28.13

Oskars Kaņeps-Kalniņš "RA Motosport" Press Secretary. Foto: Aigars Tīdmanis, Go4speed.lv