·         Mārtiņš Sesks, MRF Tyres and LAF Rally Commission create impressive growth framework

·         Junior drivers will be provided with a prize fund of 20,000 euros

·         Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge – an international development program

·         A unique opportunity for underaged drivers to learn and hone rally skills in special stages

Juniors.

Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge will be an international competition, in which pilots of a wide age range will be able to master their skill and compete for valuable prizes – starting with underage pilots who are taking their first steps in the world of rallying – U-18, and up to pilots who have already gained their first experience, whose age does not exceed 25 years – U-25.

Depending on the skills and abilities of each pilot, the LAF Rally Commission will decide on the inclusion of the crew in one of two qualifying categories, which will also have different permittable cars.

U-18 category crews are allowed to use an older generation R2 car, Rally5 car, or any other 2WD car with an engine displacement not exceeding 1700 cm3. It should be noted that the use of Rally4 car is not allowed for U-18 participants.

Meanwhile, U-25 category crews will be allowed to use more powerful cars – Rally4 or any other 2WD car with an engine displacement not exceeding 3000 cm3.

Calendar.

Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge will start in the spring of 2026 – at the rally “Dienvidkurzeme”, on May 30-31. The season will continue with the rallysprint “Talsi”, which will take place on June 27-28. Then there will be a short break to start the second part of the season, during which three more rounds are planned – the rallysprint “Cesvaine” on August 15, the rally “Cēsis” on September 12-13, and to conclude the season – the rallysprint “Latvija” on October 24-25, providing tarmac experience.

Distance.

Regardless whether the Junior Challenge round is scheduled during the rally or rallysprint competition, the Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge crews will have a sporting distance in the range of 51 – 75 km. At the same time, at the crew's discretion, in the two rally competitions "Dienvidkurzeme" and "Cēsis", participants will also be able to complete the full rally distance, according to their own judgment.

Registration fee.

The Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge participants have a registration fee of 1000 EUR.

It is important to mention that in order to bolster the participation of Latvian rally juniors, the registration fee for Latvian crews will be fully paid by the LAF Rally Commission.

Prize fund.

Impressive total prize fund of 20 000 EUR is planned for the Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge. To elaborate, the winners of each round – in each category – will receive two new MRF Tyres rally tires.

Moreover, the fastest U-18 and U-25 crews in the season's overall standings will receive not only prize money, but also a Rally3 tests under the leadership of Latvia's leading rally driver Mārtiņš Sesks!

Workshops.

In addition to the impressive prize pool, an extensive series of workshops is also planned, providing junior drivers with essential knowledge, promoting their further career growth. It is expected that during these workshops, internationally experienced experts will share their knowledge on a series of topics – driver skills, co-driver skills, technical skills, media skills.

Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge
registration will start early in 2026.

More information.

More information and the opportunity to ask questions of interest is planned in the near future at a Zoom meeting, the date of which will be shared separately. Other information, as well as the registration form, will be available on the official website of the Latvian Rally Championship – www.autorally.lv.

Mārtiņš Sesks, Latvia's leading rally driver:

“Finally, I have the opportunity to use both my personal experience and the support network of partners to jointly create a program that allows young drivers to turn their potential into real performance. This program combines theoretical knowledge with practical training in a competitive environment, and this is the most valuable thing a young driver can get.”

Vivek Ponnusamy, Team MRF Tyres Representative:

“Mārtiņš Sesks represents exactly what MRF Tyres stands for in modern rallying: talent, professionalism, and a constant drive for development. Over the past years, his feedback and experience at the highest level have played a meaningful role in the continuous evolution of our rally tyres, helping us refine performance, durability, and consistency across different surfaces.

With the Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge, we are taking this partnership one step further. This project is not only about supporting young drivers, but about creating a structured growth pathway where knowledge, experience and opportunity are passed on to the next generation. Investing in young talent today means strengthening the future of rallying tomorrow, and MRF Tyres is proud to be part of a programme that combines competition, education, and long-term development.”

Raimonds Strokšs, Head of the LAF Rally Commission:

“When thinking about how to further develop and strengthen the traditions of the Latvian rally, the support that we can provide to junior crews, who are just starting their journey in the exciting, but also challenging world of rallying, has always been very important for the LAF Rally Commission. We are very pleased that thanks to the cooperation we have started with the official tyre supplier MRF Tyres, we can significantly expand this support next year. Working closely together with Mārtiņš Sesks, we have created a conceptually new Junior Challenge, in which all its participants will receive support, and the fastest winners will receive a prize never seen before in the Latvian Rally Championship – tests with a Rally3 car!”

Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Tyres Junior Challenge, 2026 Calendar:

Information about Latvian Rally Championship available on our official website www.autorally.lv,
as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and X.