In Talsi Plangi will try to reach the finish for the first time
Rally "Talsi" will take place on 16th and 17th of May, which will be the fourth stage of the Latvian Rally Championship. This year rally "Talsi" will be of international significance, because rally "Talsi" will host stages of the Lithuanian Rally Championship, the North European Zone (NEZ) Rally Championship and Junior Championship NEZ.
In total, 78 crews will be on startup this rally representing eight countries - Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Russia, Great Britain, Poland and Finland. If in LRC2 class 15 crews will come out on startup, then in LRC3 class 29 crews will fight for victory, which provides a very tough battle.
The 78 crews will also comprise four ASRT Rally Team crews - Siim Plangi/Marek Sarapuu, Karl Martin Volver/Marguss Jerand, Sergey Popov/Andrey Galkevich and Ainārs Igaveņš/Gatis Cimdiņš.
"The feelings are good. Before the start of the rally I had training, in which I traveled from 50 to 60 kilometers. We were able to show good speed. Also, the machine worked well, so we had no problem. So far I have raced many times this rally, but I have never managed to reach the finish. In any case, the rally will be tough because we will be the first crew on the road. The main challenge will be to reach the finish, to get valuable points and to achieve good emotions and feelings before the remaining summer rally season rally," says Siim Plangi before the rally.
The first gravel rally with the new Peugeot 208 R2 will be driven by LRC3 class fourth fastest crew Volver/Jerand. "Long time has passed since the last winter rally has, but I have not lost the skills and behavior. Before rally Talsi we will be hitting some tests, so I hope that I get accustomed with gravel roads soon. I hope these special stages will be according to my driving style. My goal is to reach the finish with a good result," says Karl Martin Volver.
This rally with a new group "A Mitsubishi Evo IX" will be driven by Ainārs Igavenš who started in Kalnamuiža rallysprint before rally Talsi. Meanwhile, Sergey Popov will start the summer season with rally Talsi. Like Plangi and Volver, Popov spent some tests before this rally.
Together in two days athletes will take 11 special stages (115 kilometers). This year, the rally organizers have taken care, so that viewers could see a lot of special stages. For example, on the first day you will be able to see all six stages, but on the second day three from five stages. So in conclusion the audience will be able to see nine from eleven specian stages.
ASRT team wishes everyone a great rally and successful finish for the athletes.
