On Saturday, May 25, the Talsi region roads hosted the third round of the Latvian Rallysprint Championship and Cup. A total of 17 crews took part, competing for victory in five classes – 4WD, 2000, 4WD Open, 2WD Open, Klasika 3000, and the Junior class. The total stage distance, on stages in Mundigciems, Strazde, and Mordanga, was 57.81 kilometres.
On Tuesday, November 5, the Latvian government finalized the decision to cover costs associated with the license for organizing FIA European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja. With that, the Latvian event, which had been preliminarily included in the 2020 calendar, has confirmed its place in the FIA European Rally Championship, with the rally set to take place on May 29-31. |
The FIA European Rally Championship will continue to follow its successful format in 2020 with confirmation of an eight-event schedule including four rounds on asphalt and four on gravel. Made up of the same eight rallies that formed the 2019 calendar, the list of dates for next season has been approved by the FIA Rally Commission and was ratified by the FIA World Motor Sport Council during an electronic vote. |
In Rally Liepāja, the longest total stage distance was not done by either the FIA European Rally Championship or the Latvian Rally Championship competitors. The Historic car regularity rally competitors had to complete a 219.46 kilometres of stages, which is 13.50 km more than the rally cars. |
On May 25, the FIA European Rally Championship and Latvian Rally Championship event Rally Liepāja also hosted an event for the Historic Sport class. A total of twelve crews took part, split into three groups – Historic (the overall classification), Historic 2WD (vehicles with two-wheel drive), and Historic Lada (VAZ manufactured vehicles). They had to tackle a total of four stages located in Mundigciems, Strazde, and Mordanga, with a total stage distance of 84.31 kilometres. |
Rally Liepāja, the third round of the 2019 FIA European Rally Championship, concluded today with stages in Aizpute, Durbe, Priekule, Skrunda, and Vaiņode. Swedish driver Oliver Solberg (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) won both the overall classification and the ERC1 Junior class. Last year’s European champion Alexey Lukyanuk (Citroen C3 R5) came second, 22.7 seconds behind the winner. Mārtiņš Sesks (Škoda Fabia R5)thrilled the local fans by finishing third overall in his debut in an R5 class car, trailing Solberg by 57.4 seconds.
Rally Liepāja, round three of the 2019 FIA European Rally Championship, began today with special stages in Mundigciems, Strazde, and Mordanga. Setting the quickest time in four out of five stages, and earning the Talsi city special prize, Oliver Solberg (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) has moved into the lead. After 99.46 stage kilometres, just 9.7 seconds separate him and the 2018 European rally champion Alexey Lukyanuk (Citroen C3 R5). To the delight of local fans, Liepāja native Mārtiņš Sesks (Škoda Fabia R5) is currently in third place overall, 24.9 seconds behind Solberg, despite this being his rally debut in an R5 class car.
Today, the FIA European Rally Championship third round Rally Liepāja began with the qualifying stage QS Fristads in the Durbe region. Fastest time through the 3,02km stage was set by Oliver Solberg (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5), followed by the 2018 European rally champion Alexey Lukyanuk (Citroen C3 R5), with Czech talent Filip Mareš (Škoda Fabia R5) in third.
Starting today Rally Liepāja souvenirs available for sale. T-shirts, cups, and caps aavailable in Rally Liepāja colours at Sportland pop-up store.
Historic regularity rally crews to join rally crews for the 2019 edition of Rally Liepāja. The competition lasting for two days – Youngtimer Rally Liepāja has a planned distance of 219 kms to reach the finish, while fighting not to be the fastest, but the more precise.
Every driver has their own story of how their rally career began, but for American Sean Johnston, it began with racing simulators, which are rapidly growing in popularity in various motorsports disciplines. After many twists and turns, he is here in Liepāja.
On Friday evening we invite all the Liepaja-natives and city guests to head over to area of concert hall Great Amber, where you will be able to see all the rally crews taking part in Competitors’ Parade. If compared to last year, when only selected crews took part in the parade, this year all the crews are invited to take part. The parade is set to begin at 20:30.
This year, three Latvian crews have registered for the FIA European Rally Championship classification in Rally Liepāja, with this event being an experiment of some kind for all three – one will return to rallying, while two will head into this adventure in an unfamiliar car. Regardless, all crews are hoping for fan support and will do their best to have a great result.
There will be traffic changes accompanied with the rynning of the FIA European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja!
Rally has always welcomed people from very different fields. That applies to both spectators and competitors. Brazilian driver Paulo Nobre is a perfect example – in his professional career, he has been the Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras soccer team president, a lawyer, and now we get to see more of him at the wheel of a rally car.
Even though you can only get a driver’s licence at 18 years of age, the Latvian Rally Championship gives younger drivers the chance to prove themselves. One of these drivers is Oliver Solberg. At the age of 17, the Sports Racing Technologies team driver has won Rally Sarma and Rally Alūksne, putting him in the lead of the Latvian Rally Championship overall classification. He is looking to showcase his talent and fight for the top spots this weekend in Liepāja as well.
Kind parnters of Rally Liepāja have ensured that crews will have an extra motivation by providing multiple special prizes!
Two rounds of the FIA European Rally Championship season have already passed, with Latvian team Sports Racing Technologies driver and Polish native Lukasz Habaj sitting at the top of the standings. He will have the privilege of having the first start number in Rally Liepāja
Estonian drivers have always managed to showcase their skills on the international stage. Georg Gross plays a significant role in doing that, having won our northern neighbour’s rally championship three times. Latvian racing fans are already familiar with Gross, who has used his Ford Focus WRC to win events in Talsi, Gulbene, Madona and Kurzeme. Now, it is time to demonstrate his skills in Rally Liepāja, doing so in the current generation Ford Fiesta WRC.
Rally Liepāja, taking place on the final weekend of May, will be the first summer round of the Latvian Rally Championship, following two winter events in the eastern part of Latvia. Traditionally, the summer season began with Rally Talsi but this year, from May 24 to 26, it will be done in Rally Liepāja, which is set to begin in Talsi, but conclude in Liepāja. Rally Liepāja to serve as the last rally of 2019 in Latvia, as the conluding events of the Latvian championship set to take place in Estonia.
This weekend, on May 25 and 26, Rally Liepāja will welcome the fastest European Rally Championship competitors in their battle for victory in the Latvian round. Among rally cars, this year will also welcome a historic car regularity rally. The dynamic Neste special stage is sure to be a special challenge for competitors, featuring differing driving conditions and road width. Moreover, one of the crews will receive a special prize from a long-term supporter of the rally – Neste Latvija.
Sunshine, bird songs and flower filled meadows are clear indications that spring has come to the Kurzeme region. This means that Rally Liepāja is almost here. Saudi Arabian driver Rakan Al-Rashed got his first Rally Liepāja experience two years ago, in wet and cold conditions, and is now ready to return with new ambitions.
Rally Liepāja plays an important role in the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) calendar as the best stages in the Talsi and Liepāja regions will be used to hand out points in all nine ERC classes. With that, it is important to look into the championship standings before Rally Liepāja.
From May 24 to 26, the picturesque Kurzeme region roads will welcome the top Latvian and European rally talents. However, that is not all – going through the entry list, you will also find a Japanese flag. Co-driven by the experienced Edgars Svencis, we will see Japanese driver Futoshi Murase showcase his skills on Latvian soil.
Reinis Nitišs will compete in the FIA European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja, with the Jēkabpils native preparing for a new challenge this year. He will be driving a rear-wheel drive Abarth 124 Rally car, with the experienced Māris Kulšs serving as his co-driver. The European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja will take place from May 24 to 26.
The FIA European Rally Championship is a fantastic platform for talented rally drivers to hone their skills and take the next step in their career. German rally driver Marijan Griebel serves as a great example, having won the Junior U27 class in 2016 and Junior U28 in 2017, which made it possible to gain additional experience in the World Rally Championship. In 2019, Griebel has decided to come to Rally Liepāja, an event that holds a special place in his career.
Mārtiņš Sesks will make his debut in an R5 car on his home round of the FIA European Rally Championship, Rally Liepāja, as the first of two prize drives for winning the ERC3 Junior crown in 2018.
For the seventh year running, the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) event reviews will be broadcast on All Media Baltics channel TV6. The broadcast plan includes reviews of all eight ERC rounds, as well as multiple broadcasts about the Latvian round Rally Liepāja. TV6 broadcast from round one in the Azores is scheduled for 22:05 on March 30.
Starting today, tickets to Rally Liepāja, the third round of the FIA European Rally Championship, are available in all Biļešu Serviss locations. From February 18 to 24, they will be available with a 10.00 EUR discount – during the first week of sales, the ticket price will be 15.00 EUR. Rally Liepāja special stages will cover a larger area than in past years, going through the best Latvian stages from Talsi to Liepāja. The event is set to take place in late spring – from May 24 to 26.
The Abarth Rally Cup will run in conjunction with the FIA European Rally Championship in 2019, bringing together the hugely exciting one-make series and the leading regional competition promoted by Eurosport Events under a long-term agreement with motorsport’s world governing body.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council met in St Petersburg, Russia, on 5 December. During the meeting, a number of proposals presented by the FIA Rally Commission, some of which related to the FIA European Rally Championship, were approved. A summary of those appears below.
2019 FIA European Rally Championship and Latvian Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja will contain the best stages of the region – the so called “golden fund” of Latvian rallying. Next year’s route is significantly expanded, going from Talsi to Liepāja and giving the participants an opportunity to enjoy the best Latvian stages, with the spectators getting the chance to see the European Rally Championship drivers fight to be the fastest from the best spectator areas in Latvia. Rally Liepāja will take place on May 24-26, 2019.
Today, the FIA European Rally Championship (FIAERC) calendar* was published, with Rally Liepāja being included for the seventh time. The first three Latvian FIAERC events (2013-2015) took place in winter, followed by three autumn events (2016-2018), but the 2019 Rally Liepāja will take place in the spring, from May 24 to 26.
Rally Liepāja concluded today in Dinsdurbe, Paplaka, Vecpils and Podnieki, serving as the final round of the FIA European Rally Championship and Latvian Rally Championship seasons. Sports Racing Technologies driver Nikolay Gryazin managed to hold onto his lead, winning the Junior U28 title and finishing runner-up in the overall standings of the European championship. Today’s Latvian Rally Championship round was won by Eurolamp World Rally Team driver Valerii Gorban.
Today in Pērbone, Laidi, Upītes and Vilgāle, the first six special stages of FIA European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja took place, in addition to round six of the Latvian Rally Championship. Qualifying stage winner Nikolay Gryazin was fastest on day one. In addition to the action on the stages, the Speed Festival Kurzeme activities also took place – sixth round of the Latvian water motorsports speedboat championship took place on the Tirdzniecības canal, while the Latvian antique automobile club Youngtimer Rally historic car gathering Cars & Coffee Liepāja took place at the Vecā Ostmala promenade.
Beginning with October 12, Liepāja will host an exciting motorsports celebration weekend. One of the main attractions will be Rally Liepāja, a round of the FIA European Rally Championship and the final round of the 2018 Latvian Rally Championship. This event is also part of the Speed Festival Kurzeme programme, where you will also find water motorsports competitions, historic car gathering Youngtimer Cars & Coffee Liepāja, the Rally Liepāja drivers parade, with the weekend concluding Rally Liepāja afterparty taking place at Hot Potato bar.