This provides a unique opportunity for all the top names in the Latvian championship, who are also ready to fight for the championship points in Southern Estonia.
The leaders of Latvian championship in LRC ABS class Oliver Solbeg and Aaron Johnston are ready for the fight in R5 class with their Volkswagen Polo R5. Their biggest competitors in this class are Georg Gross and Raigo Mõlder with Ford Fiesta WRC and Valerii Gorban-Sergei Larens with Mini Cooper WRC car, who are currently third and fourth in LRC ABS. Also Nikolai Grjazin and Yaroslav Feodorov with Škoda Fabia R5.
In LRC 2 class TOP 3 drivers Emils Blums-Didzis Eglitis, Denis Rostilov-Georgy Troshkin and Edgars Balodis-Lasma Tole are in the entry list. Rally Estonia 2016 winner Ralfs Sirmacis is back in Estonia as he drives LRC 2 category Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X with Ralfs Igavens.
And in LRC 3 cateogory Adam Westlund and Joakim Sjoberg can compare their pace with Estonian R2 drivers like Roland Poom, Ken Torn and Gregor Jeets.
In total, there are 104 crews taking part in the event with 39 of them competing for the points of the Latvian Rally Championship. The opening ceremony of Shell Helix Rally Estonia takes place on Friday July 12, at Tartu Raekoja square starting 20.00. The opening ceremony is followed by big concert where one of the performers is Latvian duo Musiqq. The concert is free.
Shell Helix Rally Estonia is the closest event in the Baltics where rally fans can see current WRC cars competing. Besides already mentioned Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja two teams from Hyundai Motorsport are present: Andreas Mikkelsen-Anders Jaeger-Amland and Craig Breen-Paul Nagle with Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. M-Sport is represented with Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin with Ford Fiesta WRC and Citroen Racing with Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm with Citroen C3 WRC. For the first time can rally fans see Rally Estonia inaugural winners Markko Märtin and Kristo Kraag competing with latest generation Ford Fiesta WRC car from M-Sport.
The best way to get everything starting from accommodation to rallypasses is official homepage of Shell Helix Rally Estonia www.rallyestonia.com