After a successfully held mini-rally last year, Cesvaine is preparing for an even more significant event this summer—on August 14 and 15, the rally sprint “Cesvaine” will take place on the roads of the town and its surroundings. This will be the first rally sprint in Cesvaine after a break of more than ten years, proving that the previous competition has become a solid foundation for the development of motorsport in the region.
Registration for the competition opens on July 15 on the website autorally.lv.
Foto: Dace Janova
“Last year, people saw what kind of event we are capable of organizing. This helps both in attracting supporters and building a team. Of course, there is no shortage of challenges, but we can see that we are heading in the right direction,” says Ingus Ķimelis, the organizer of the “Cesvaine” rally sprint.
He emphasizes that a high-quality rally is not built in a matter of weeks. “Work goes on all year round. As soon as one event ended, we immediately started preparing for the next one. This is the only way to create a competition that remains memorable for both participants and spectators.”
In this year's rally sprint, athletes will have to complete eight special stages with a total length of 64.4 kilometers. The race route will consist of four different special stages, which the crews will run twice.
“We have created a very compact yet dynamic rally. The tracks will be characteristic of the Cesvaine area—with varied terrain, curves, and jumps. We have tried to select the most interesting things this region has to offer.”
Part of the route will be familiar from last year's mini-rally, but some sections will be run in the opposite direction, while one special stage will be used in the rally for the first time.
Foto: Oskars Freijs
The opening of the competition will take place near Cesvaine Palace on August 14 at 18:00. Participants will drive through the palace courtyard, where the ceremonial opening and interviews with the crews are scheduled. On Saturday, August 15, the first special stage will start at 9:00, the last crew will finish around 17:00, and the award ceremony will take place behind the palace at 19:00.
The organizers have also kept spectators in mind. “The route is designed so that you can easily watch about half of the special stages in a single day without rushing, and still find time for a lunch break in between.”
Meanwhile, Ingus Ķimelis advises athletes to take the opportunity to compete in Cesvaine. “If our plan for the coming years comes to fruition and the major rally takes place here, then this will be an excellent opportunity to get to know the roads right now and gather valuable racing kilometers.”
The organizers hope to welcome crews from neighboring countries as well, especially Estonia. The competition will also serve as a round of the Mārtiņš Sesks MRF Junior Challenge.
It is not just the event organization itself that has benefited from last year's mini-rally, but also the local motorsport community. Another person has joined the core organizing team, while more and more local residents and young people are getting involved in volunteer work.
“Last year, we were helped by several young people who proved themselves very well in both organizational tasks and as track marshals. This year, others are joining them. This is very important because it is impossible to organize such a large event without a large team.”
Foto: Oskars Freijs
“It is gratifying that not only the event itself is growing, but the motorsport community as well. People come to us wanting to help with organization, and local athletes are increasingly choosing to compete. This gives us confidence that rally traditions in the Madona region are being revived.”
The responsiveness of local residents also gives the organizers extra motivation.
“When we go to coordinate road usage, we often hear that people remember last year's mini-rally and are happy that rallying is returning. Many are already hoping that a major rally will be held in Cesvaine in the future.”
The general sponsor of the “Cesvaine” rally sprint is the digital logistics technology company MyDello. The event is supported by the Madona Municipality, Erst Finance, ICG group, AT Batic, and 4stils. The organizers would like to thank Lazdonas Pienasaimnieks for providing the service park area, while Cesvaines piens and Cesvaines brewery will take care of special prizes, and Astarte Nafta will offer the best discounts on fuel. This year, the Cesvaine organizers are also continuing their successful partnership with Foton, which will provide the official cars for the rally.
Information prepared by Dace Janova, Press Secretary of the “Cesvaine” rally sprint