Māris Neikšāns began his rallying career in 2002, debuting in Rally Latvia at the wheel of a VAZ 2108. In 2003, Neikšāns took part in all the Latvian Rally Championship rounds and won the first of his eight national championship titles. In the following years, he was part of LMT Rallija Komanda, competing in the FIA World Rally Championship round Neste Oil Rally Finland three times. His best international result came in 2007, when, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, he was third in the Production WRC class and twentieth in the overall standings.

“It has been quite a while since I’ve last competed in a rally, so I don’t really expect to be fighting for the top positions in Rally Liepāja. My main objective will be to have fun and enjoy every stage kilometre, not focusing on the result! With that said, I still hope that by the end of the rally I will have managed to regain the ability to both enjoy the rally and post some competitive times as well!” says Māris Neikšāns.

2016 will be the fourth year in a row with Rally Liepāja as part of the FIA European Rally Championship. In this, the sixty-fourth season of the championship, the Latvian round will open the season and will be the only event in which crews drive on studded tyres. Rally Liepāja tickets, which will let spectators attend both days of the event, are available in several locations in Liepāja, Kuldīga, Saldus, Talsi and Rīga, as well as online at http://autorally.lv, at a price of 25.00 EUR.

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 sponsors Neste Oil, NPK Expert, Blue Shock Race, Vivus.lv, 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, Skrīveru Saldumi, Venden and Törley. A special thank you goes out to the Latvian Automobile Federation.

Jānis Unbedahts