All FIA European Rally Championship rounds are attended by FIA observers, who evaluate the organisation level of each event, therefore making it possible for the FIA to control the overall quality of the championship. The final rating is determined from a total of 207 factors, which are split into the following main categories – rally infrastructure, race distance, rally documentation, event safety, work conditions for media representatives and the technical preparation of the rally.

“This is a very important FIA evaluation, as we have now received an independent confirmation that we can host an international level event here in Latvia, and do so very well. Even though I cannot discuss the FIA evaluation in detail, I can say that since 2013, which was the first year we had a revamped European Rally Championship event here, the organisation level has improved each year. As a matter of fact, the whole championship has significantly improved, and it makes us even happier that we have managed to improve at a quicker pace than organisers who have ten or more years of experience. I am certain that all the European automobile federations have received these evaluations, and hope that they will encourage their drivers to try new events, leading to more new crews tackling the Liepāja and Kuldīga roads, and possibly winter rallies as such, for the first time!” says Manager of the Latvian Automobile Federation Rally Commission, Jānis Krastiņš.

“Meeting all the FIA criteria is not an easy job, especially when it comes to a winter rally. This evaluation serves as proof that we, the organisers of Rally Liepāja, have not been stagnant for the last few years. We have learned from both our and the other’s mistakes, in order to improve the event each year and organise a top level rally here in Latvia! A lot of different criteria go into forming the final evaluation, so I would like to thank all our partners and everyone involved in organising the rally – everything you have done has been included in this evaluation, so, by extension, this is also an evaluation of your work – all of you, working to the best of your abilities, have made the highest rated FIA European Rally Championship event of 2015!” Raimonds Strokšs, Rally Liepāja organiser, RA EVENTS director.

2016 will be the fourth year in a row with Rally Liepāja as part of the FIA European Rally Championship. In the first three years, the Latvian event was second in the calendar, but, with Austria not being included this season, the Kurzeme region based rally will have the honour to open the sixty-fourth season of the FIA European Rally Championship. Rally Liepāja entry passes are already on sale in various locations in Liepāja, Kuldīga, Saldus, Talsi and Rīga at a price of 18.00 EUR before the end of 2015. Starting with January 1, 2016, the price will be raised to 25.00 EUR. It is also possible to buy the entry passes online, on the official website of the Latvian Rally Championship at http://www.autorally.lv.

We would also like to remind you that all the news and other information about Rally Liepāja is available on the official website www.lvrally.com and on social media Twitter @LVRally, Facebook /LVRally, YouTube /RallyLiepāja and Instagram /lvrally.

FIA European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja is possible thanks to the support of the Latvian government and the rally city of Liepāja. We would also like to thank our sponsor Neste Oil, our partner Kuldīga city, as well as supporters Baltijas Helikopters, Canon ibServiss Rīga, Castrol, Liepājas Olimpiskais Centrs and SweCon. Informative support is provided by the official news portal DELFI and media partners StarFM, FHM, Go4Speed, JCDecaux, Kurzemes Radio and Zebra. Rally Liepāja would also not be possible without our rally friends: Dardedze, Guard Systems, Holography, Jānis Pūce, Liepājas Datoru Centrs, Ramirent, Red Bull, SignTech and Törley. A special thank you goes out to the Latvian Automobile Federation.

Jānis Unbedahts, RA EVENTS, SIA. Photo: fiaerc.com