Current leader of the 2022 FIA European Rally Championship standings and the 2019 European Junior champion Efren Llarena (Škoda Fabia R5 Rally2 evo) will have the first starting number. Former FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Hyundai factory team driver from New Zealand Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 Rally2) will also try his hand at Kurzeme roads, using Tet Rally Liepāja as preparation for the upcoming starts in WRC2. Latvian home crowd will be excited to see fellow countryman Mārtiņš Sesks taking part in Rally2 class with his new Škoda Fabia R5 Rally2 evo car, as well as cheering for Ilya Zakmans at the wheel of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X car.
In total, 19 crews will compete in highest ERC1 class with Rally2 specification cars. Among the candidates for victory for sure will be former World Junior champions Nil Solans (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) and Simone Tempestini (Škoda Fabia Rally2), who are among leaders of the 2022 championship. Swede Tom Kristensson (Hyundai i20 R5 Rally2), who finished second at Rally Poland, will also be reaching for the highest spot on the podium.
Dakar rally-raid experienced Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Žala (Škoda Fabia R5 Rally2) has also entered the 2022 Tet Rally Liepāja, with the Baltic states further represented by another Lithuanian Vladas Jurkevičius (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) and three Estonians – Ken Torn (Ford Fiesta Mk2 Rally2), Gregor Jeets (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo), and Priit Koik (Ford Fiesta Mk2 Rally2).
ERC3 category with Rally3 specification cars will feature two crews, while in ERC4 there will be 24 competitors, from which 13 will participate in Junior ERC, but seven will race in Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT championship, competing with identical Renault Clio Rally5 cars.
Among the competitors of Tet Rally Liepāja are crews from 23 different countries. The most represented are Spain, Estonia and Italy having six crews each. Meanwhile, drivers from such far countries as New Zealand, Australia (Luke Anear with Ford Fiesta Mk2 Rally2, ERC1 category) and Argentina (Paulo Soria with Renault Clio Rally5 car, Clio Trophy) will also come to Latvia. There is also quite large variance in the chosen vehicles, with a total of 8 different car manufacturers represented. The most popular among the competitors is Ford with 17 crews choosing it, while Škoda and Renault is chosen by respectively 12 and 10 crews.
Entry list available HERE.
FIA European Rally Championship fifth round Tet Rally Liepāja is going to take place on July 1-3, with special stages organised in Talsi region and Dienvidkurzeme region. Tet Rally Liepāja tickets available on the official website of the rally www.lvrally.com, with reduced ticket price still live until June 26.
Round of the 2022 FIA European Rally Championship event Tet Rally Liepāja is possible thanks to the support provided by the Ministry of Education and Science, rally city Liepāja, as well as our partner Talsi region. The event is run thanks to general sponsor Tet, sponsors Ramirent and SC Grupa/Eurovia and in collaboration with Magnetic Latvia. Thanks to our official car rental Sixt and our supporters Canon Biznesa Centrs Liepāja, Fristads, Liepājas Olimpiskais Centrs, and Liepājas Speciālā Ekonomiskā Zona. Informative support is provided by news media DELFI and media partners Kurzemes Radio, MVP, Sporta Avīze, and Talsu Vēstis. We also express our gratitude to our Tet Rally Liepāja friends Baltic Taxi, EL Networks, Flora, FN Serviss, Jānis Pūce, Löfbergs, MB Grupa, Red Bull, SignTech, Sportland, and Törley. Tet Rally Liepāja is organised in association with Dienvidkurzeme region and Latvian Automobile Federation.
