The third day of Rally Latvia has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä remains in the event lead after the day’s eight stages.
SS9, Pilskalns
Kalle Rovanperä kicked off the third day in the same fashion as days one and two. As the Finnish driver set a time 5.4 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top the stage. Ott Tänak finished third fastest on the opening stage, 5.5 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Mārtinš Sesks and Takamoto Katsuta tied for third fastest on the stage. With both drivers finishing 2.6 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS10, Snēpele
Kalle Rovanperä also took home the stage win on the tenth stage of Rally Latvia 2024. With a time two seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Elfyn Evans was third fastest on the stage, 3.8 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 1.8 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta finished fourth fastest on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Evans. Mārtinš Sesks rounded out the top five, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS11, Īvande
Ott Tänak ended Rovanperä’s dominance with a stage win on SS11. As the Estonian finished 2.7 seconds faster than Takamoto Katstua to win the stage. Kalle Rovanperä was third fastest on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Tänak and 0.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, two seconds slower than Ogier.
SS12, Vecplis 1
Kalle Rovanperä was back to his winning ways on the twelfth stage of Rally Latvia 2024. As the rally leader set a time 1.4 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to take the stage win. Ott Tänak finished third fastest on the stage, 1.5 seconds slower than Rovanperä, and 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Mārtinš Sesks was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing three seconds slower than Sesks.
SS13, Podnieki
Kalle Rovanperä also took the stage win on SS13. With a time 2.6 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Mārtinš Sesks had the third fastest time on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Adrien Fourmaux finished fourth fastest on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Sesks. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS14, Vecpils 2
Kalle Rovanperä was also the fastest on the fourteenth stage of Rally Latvia 2024. As the Finnish driver finished 2.7 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to take the stage win. Sebastien Ogier was third fastest on the stage, 3.9 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 1.2 seconds slower than Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Ogier. While Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, with a time 0.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS15, Dinsdrube
Sebastien Ogier took home the stage win on the third day’s penultimate stage. As the eight-time champion set a time 0.3 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä to top the stage. Takamoto Katsuta was third fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Ogier and 0.2 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Ott Tänak finished fourth fastest on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS16, Liepāja City Stage
Kalle Rovanperä topped the final stage of the third day of Rally Latvia 2024. With a time 0.1 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta. Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans tied for third fastest on the stage, with both finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 0.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Sebastien Ogier rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.3 seconds slower than Neuville and Evans.
The second day of Rally Latvia 2024 has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä retained the event lead after the day.
SS2, Milzkalne 1
Kalle Rovanperä kicked off the second day with a stage win. As the Finnish driver set a time 1.3 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to take the stage win. Takamoto Katsuta was third fastest on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 0.4 seconds slower than Ogier. Mārtinš Sesks finished fourth fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Katsuta. Esapekka Lappi rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.7 seconds slower than Sesks.
SS3, Tukums 1
Mārtinš Sesks took home his first stage win on the third stage of Rally Latvia 2024. With a time 1.6 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä. Ott Tänak finished third fastest on the stage, 3.5 seconds slower than Sesks and 1.9 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth fastest time, 1.1 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, 4.3 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS4, Andumi
Mārtinš Sesks also took home the stage win on SS4. As Sesks finished with a time 0.1 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä. Adrien Fourmaux was third fastest on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Sesks and 0.5 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth-fastest time on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Fourmaux. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.9 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS5, Milzkalne 2
Sebastien Ogier took his first stage win of the weekend on the fifth stage of Rally Latvia 2024. As Ogier set a time 0.1 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsura to take the stage win. Kalle Rovanperä finished third fastest on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier and 0.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Adrien Fourmaux was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Mārtinš Sesks rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS6, Tukums 2
Kalle Rovanperä was back to form on SS6. As the rally leader finished with a time 3.5 seconds faster than Mārtinš Sesks to take the stage win. Sebastien Ogier was third fastest on the stage, 3.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 0.1 seconds slower than Sesks. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS7, Strazde
Kalle Rovanperä also took the stage win on the seventh stage of Rally Latvia 2024. With a time 1.7 seconds faster than Mārtinš Sesks to take the stage win. Sebastien Ogier finished third fastest on the stage, 3 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 1.3 seconds slower than Sesks. Adrien Fourmaux set the fourth fastest time on the stage, one second slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, 3.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS8, Tulsi
Kalle Rovanperä capped off the second day with his fifth stage win of the event. As Rovanperä set a time 3.5 seconds faster than Takamoto Katsuta to take the stage win. Grégoire Munster finished third fastest on the stage, 5.6 seconds slower than Rovanperä and 2.1 seconds slower than Katsuta. Mārtinš Sesks was fourth fastest on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Munster. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.4 seconds slower than Sesks.
This first day of Rally Latvia 2024 has come to an end. Oliver Solberg took an early lead on the day. Find out all you need to know below.
Shakedown
Oliver Solberg set the fastest time on the shakedown stage in the WRC2 class. As the “almost Latvian” driver set a time 0.7 seconds faster than Fabrizio Zaldivar and Josh McErlean who tied for second fastest. Mikko Heikklä finished fourth fastest on the Rally Latvia 2024 shakedown stage, with a time 0.6 seconds slower than Zaldivar and McErlean. Miguel Zaldivar rounded out the top five in the WRC2 class on the shakedown stage. Finishing with a time 0.1 seconds slower than Heikklä.
SS1, Bikernieki Track
Oliver Solberg kicked off Rally Latvia 2024 with a stage win. As the two-time event winner posted a time 7.6 seconds faster than Roberto Daprà to take an early lead. Emil Lindholm finished third fastest on the opening stage, 8.9 seconds slower than Solberg and 1.3 seconds slower than Darpà. Josh McErlean set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Lindholm. Fabrizio Zaldivar rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than McErlean.
What To Expect From Rally Latvia 2024 Day Two
The second day of Rally Latvia 2024 will see drivers contest 120.92 km across 7 special stages. Unlike other events, 5 of the day’s 7 stages will be different. As only the 4.99 km Milzkalne stage and the 27.56 km Tukums stage will be run twice. They will serve as SS2/5 and SS3/6 respectively. The day features no midday service, only a tire fitting zone. Meaning drivers will have to attempt to limit the damage to their cars as much as possible. There will be a 47-minute service to end the day off. Sami Pajari will be the first of the WRC2 drivers on the road, followed by Oliver Solberg and Nikolay Gryazin.
This first day of Rally Latvia 2024 has come to an end. Kalle Rovanperä took an early lead on the day. Find out all you need to know below.
Shakedown
Ott Tänak set the fastest time on the shakedown stage. With a time 0.3 seconds faster than championship leader Thierry Neuville. Takamoto Katsuta finished third fastest, 0.4 seconds slower than Tänak and 0.1 seconds slower than Neuville. Mārtinš Sesks posted the fourth fastest time on the shakedown stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Katsuta. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the Rally Latvia 2024 shakedown stage, with a time 0.2 seconds slower than Sesks.
SS1, Bikernieki Track
Kalle Rovanperä picked up where he left off last time out in Poland. As the 2-time drivers champion finished the opening stage 2.4 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville and Sebastien Ogier who tied for second. Mārtinš Sesks finished fourth on the first stage of his home event, 0.5 seconds slower than Neuville and Ogier. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing one second slower than Sesks.
What To Expect From Rally Latvia 2024 Day Two
The second day of Rally Latvia 2024 will see drivers contest 120.92 km across 7 special stages. Unlike other events, 5 of the day’s 7 stages will be different. As only the 4.99 km Milzkalne stage and the 27.56 km Tukums stage will be run twice. They will serve as SS2/5 and SS3/6 respectively. The day features no midday service, only a tire fitting zone. Meaning drivers will have to attempt to limit the damage to their cars as much as possible. There will be a 47-minute service to end the day off. Thierry Neuville will be first on the road, followed by Elfyn Evans and Ott Tänak. The slippery road has already caught Neuville out once, so he’ll likely look to take it cautiously and attempt to get a better starting position on day three.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round eight Tet Rally Latvia. Here are some predictions for the WRC2 class.
Solberg Wins
Oliver Solberg only has one win this season. That coming at his home event of Rally Sweden. However, the championship hopeful has plenty of experience at Rally Latvia. Which should give him a slight edge over his competition. Especially those who don’t have the experience at the event. Solberg will have to attempt to beat Sami Pajari, who has won the last two events in class. Pajari will be ahead of Solberg on the road to start the event. This means Pajari will get a road that is slightly fresher than Solberg for all of the first full day of action.
Pajari, Greensmith Round Out Podium
Speaking of Pajari, I have him taking one of the other two podium spots this weekend. As previously mentioned Pajari has been quick on gravel this season. Winning the last two events in the WRC2 class. Gus Greensmith on the other hand is also a fast driver when it comes down to it. Plus Rally Latvia doesn’t have a laundry list of potential contenders for the podium this weekend. The only other guys I could see coming close are Mikko Heikklä, Josh McErlean and Teemu Suninen. As both Suninen and Heikklä are also properly fast drivers when it comes down to it. Plus Heikklä has experience at the event. Suninen on the other hand is driving a not-so-good Hyundai Rally2 car.
McErlean Has Another Strong Event
Josh McErlean has been kinda looked over so far this season. As the Irishman has put up pretty good results behind the wheel of his Škoda Fabia. Finishing second in Portugal and battling near the top five in Poland. I wouldn’t be surprised if McErlean somehow manages to sneak into the top five this weekend. Again it’s a rather disappointing entry list of cars. However, that still wouldn’t take away from the result. As at the end of the day, every point matters. Plus all experience matters.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round eight Tet Rally Latvia. Find out all you need to know below.
Championship Rundown
Yohan Rossel retained the championship lead after Rally Poland. Despite not contesting the event. Sami Pajari moved into second after winning the event. The Finnish driver now sits just 3 points behind Rossel. Rossel will be absent once again this weekend. This means Pajari should be able to take the championship lead after Rally Latvia. Oliver Solberg sits third in the championship, 7 points behind Pajari. Both drivers have a chance to pass Rossel this weekend. Jan Solans fell to fourth after Rally Poland, which he didn’t contest. The Spaniard now sits tied for fourth with Nikolay Grayzin, 13 points behind Solberg.
Thin Entry Sheet
Rally Latvia will probably be the shortest WRC2 entry list of all the European events. As just 19 drivers will compete in the class this weekend. This includes names such as Oliver Solberg, who is looking for the win this weekend. Alongside Gus Greensmith, Josh McErlean, Sami Pajari, Mikko Heikklä and Teemu Suninen. Outside of those few nobody really has a chance to contest for the win unless somebody either has a shocker of an event, or all of those drivers have issues. Brandon Semenuk is a notable name making his debut this weekend. As the 2 time American Rally champion will drive a Yaris Rally2. However, I don’t have high expectations of Semenuk this weekend. As it’s not only a new car and event but a whole different experience for the Canadian.
More Points On The Board
Less drivers in class means less pressure right? Well, that could certainly be true and will probably be the case. Obviously, this doesn’t mean everyone will take it easy and just finish the event. Points are still points and for guys like Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari every single one matters at this point in the season. As both are strong contenders for the championship. Neither of them will go easy on one another this weekend. Which is probably how they’d like it anyway. As nobody enjoys being handed points. Especially in a close championship battle.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round eight Tet Rally Latvia. Here are some predictions for the Rally1 class.
Tänak Wins
Rally Latvia is set up to be an epic three-way battle between Kalle Rovanperä, Sebastien Ogier and Ott Tänak. All three drivers are blisteringly quick when it comes down to it. Personally, I have Tänak taking home the win. Why? Simply put Tänak is probably going to be a man on a mission this weekend. As his Rally Poland ended way early due to a deer. Then a roll in the ERC running of his home event Rally Estonia the week after. Tänak is already somebody who wants to win at every event. Add that to him falling out of the running for the championship and the previously mentioned incident and it’s a storm waiting to happen.
Sesks Finishes Top 5
This may be a bit far-fetched. However, out of all the rally1 drivers, Sesks has the most experience on these roads. As it’s his home event. Sure he still has a lack of time in the car, especially with the hybrid unit. However, after his showing in Poland, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected out of Sesks. It won’t be an easy feat for the Latvian to pull off, as he’ll have to fend off one or more of Kalle Rovanperä, Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, Ott Tänak, Thierry Neuville, Esapekka Lappi and Adrien Fourmuax.
Neuville Falls Out Of The Championship Lead
Thierry Neuville has led the championship since the start of the season. After a win at the opening round in Monte-Carlo. However, Neuville sits in a position where he could lose the championship lead this weekend. As Elfyn Evans sits just 15 points behind the Belgian. Sure that sounds like a lot. But all it takes is for Neuville to have an issue at any point in the weekend and those points will bleed away. Of course, you never hope to see a driver run into issues. However, it’s a part of rallying that can happen to anybody.
Evans Shows Up
Elfyn Evans hasn’t had the greatest first half of the season. As the Welshman is without a win to this point and arguably wouldn’t be the number one championship contender for Toyota if Ogier didn’t miss out on Rally Poland. Evans has to hope Rally Latvia goes way better than any other event this season. As he desperately needs the points if he wants to remain a threat for the championship heading into the back half of the season. He can’t rely on another lucky Rally Finland to kick-start his season.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round eight Tet Rally Latvia. Find out all you need to know below.
Championship Rundown
Thierry Neuville still holds the championship lead, something he has held since Monte Carlo. However, this weekend Neuville is under pressure more than ever as Elfyn Evans sits just 15 points behind. Ott Tänak sits 21 points behind Neuville and 6 behind Evans. Sebastien Ogier is fourth in the championship, 23 points behind Tänak. Fellow Frenchman Adrien Fourmuax rounds out the top five in the championship, sitting just a single point behind Ogier.
Team Rundowns
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota will fleet a four-car lineup for Rally Latvia this weekend. With Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä and Sebastien Ogier being nominated to score manufacturers’ points. While Takamoto Katsuta is not. Rovanperä will be looking for his third win of the season. While Ogier will look to bounce back after missing Rally Poland due to an accident before the event. Elfyn Evans will look to kickstart his disappointing season in Latvia. Overall Toyota is setting itself up to give Hyundai a run for its money.
Hyundai Shell Mobis
Hyundai will run the standard three-car lineup. Featuring Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak alongside Esapekka Lappi. Neuville will be looking to hold onto the championship lead. While also making up for a rather disappointing showing in Poland last time out. While Tänak will be looking to just do any bit of the event at this point. As a deer ended his event early in Poland. Then in his home event of Rally Estonia in the ERC, he rolled his i20 completely destroying the car. Lappi will contest just his third event this season. The Finnish driver already has one win under his belt this season, that being way back in Sweden.
M-Sport Ford
M-Sport will run a three-car lineup for the second consecutive event. As Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster will once again be joined by Martins Sesks. Who this time around will be driving a full-flight Rally1 car. Sesks made the most of their debut last time out in Poland. Finishing top five on a handful of stages. Fourmaux will likely be looking to finish on the podium once again this weekend. As he finished third in Poland earlier this month. Munster will continue the usual of learning the event and the car. Not much to expect there.
Martins Sesks made a splash in his Rally1 debut earlier this month. Find out more about the Latvian’s debut below.
A Large Jump
Martins Sesks has had good results in the European Rally Championship, including winning Rally Poland last season. Which earned him a two-event drive in a Rally1 car this season. Sesks drove Rally Poland in a hybrid-less Rally1 car. He will drive a Rally1 car with a hybrid later this week in his home event of Rally Latvia. Nobody expected much out of Sesks in Poland. As he not only had a power disadvantage but he also had a huge lack of time in the car. Nevertheless, Sesks set out to prove he belongs. As he set the second fastest time on the first full stage of the event. He also sat in the top five nearly all weekend long. Battling with Thierry Neuville who was the reigning Rally Poland winner in a WRC car. Most people were expecting Sesks to be ahead of Grégoire Munster, but I don’t think anybody thought he’d be battling the championship leader at points during the weekend.
What To Expect In Latvia
Well, Martins Sesks blew everyone’s socks off in Poland. Which makes me think he’ll be a front-runner once again at his home event. As he has the most experience at the event out of any Rally1 driver, plus he won’t have a power disadvantage this time around. Overall I wouldn’t be surprised if Sesks not only took stage wins but also finished the event in the top five if nothing goes wrong over the course of the event. He will have to try and fend off some much more experienced drivers, however. As guys like Kalle Rovanperä, Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, Esapekka Lappi and Adrien Fourmaux have all shown previously they can be fast when it comes down to it. They also all have much more experience behind the wheel of a Rally1 car compared to Sesks. Rally Latvia is set to be an extremely interesting event.
Jari-Matti Latvala will step back into the driver’s seat for Rally Finland. This time taking the wheel of a Yaris Rally2 for his home event.
Stepping Into The Seat
It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that Jari-Matti Latvala wants to contest Rally Finland once again. As he finished fifth overall at the event last season. However, that came after half of the Rally1 field had some sort of issue. Nevertheless this year Latvala will have a slower yet still great car to drive. As he’s driving the sort of brand-new Yaris Rally2. Which heading into Rally Latvia is three for three on gravel events in the WRC. As Jan Solans took the win in Portugal and Sami Pajari in Sardegna and Poland. Latvala likely won’t be looking for the win. As it’s not a secret that guys like Oliver Solberg are much faster at this point in time. Nevertheless, the journeyman rally driver will look to have a fun time out.
Why The Rally2 Car?
The answer to this isn’t really known at this point. However, it was rumoured that Jari-Matti Latvala would once again drive the Rally1 car. What happened to that? Well Sami Pajari’s Rally1 drive being moved changed that. Latvala isn’t a guy who is going to take the opportunity away from somebody like Pajari. He has no reason to. Plus stepping behind the wheel of the Rally2 car may help Latvala assist drivers like Yuki Yamamoto and Hikaru Kogure progress in the cars.
Who Will Take Over As Team Principal?
This also hasn’t been confirmed however, I have no doubt in my mind Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda will step in once again for Latvala. As Toyoda has a love for rallying and if he’s free would probably be more than happy to step back into the role for the weekend.