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.
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.
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.
Brandon Semenuk is set to make his WRC debut this month in Latvia. Find out more about the Canadian rally star below.
Making His Debut
There has been talk for the last couple of seasons about now-two-time American Rally Association Champion Brandon Semenuk making his international rally debut. Semenuk did make that debut back at the legendary Otago Rally earlier this year. However, the Canadian has yet to make his World Rally Championship debut, let alone do a rally in Europe. That will all change come Rally Latvia next month. As Semenuk will make his debut in a Rally2 Yaris.
Brandon Semenuk has spent the last year in a half dominating the ARA in his top-of-the-line Subaru Rallycar built by Vermont Sportscar. Semenuk won every round of the ARA championship in 2023 and every round this season up until the Oregon Trail Rally when a rock damaged his car and forced him to retire. Brandon Semenuk also took home his first championship back in 2022 after a close battle with the late great Ken Block. Semenuk narrowly beat out the action sports legend, with Block sliding off the road at the final event of the season.
Overall Semenuk shouldn’t make any huge strides in his first WRC event. As the car, while slower than what he is used to stateside, will still have a learning curve. Add that to a decent amount of quality competition like Oliver Solberg who raced in the ARA some years ago alongside David Higgins. Semenuk may be able to take a handful of top-five stage times in class by the end of the weekend. As he is a quick learner and has shown he is not only a top driver in North America but potentially one of the better drivers in the world.
Brandon Semenuk works on a really tight schedule most of the time as he also does mountain biking. Balancing mountain biking and rallying hasn’t been an easy task for Semenuk persay, add having to travel to Europe or some other country and spend a decent amount of time preparing for an event and it makes it harder. Not that Semenuk doesn’t already do this stateside. He could potentially do Rally Chile this year or Rally Paraguay next year. If the opportunity arises for Semenuk to drive at either event.
Sami Pajari leads the WRC2 class after the second day of Rally Poland 2024. Find out what occurred on the day below.
SS2, Stanczyki 1
Sami Pajari kicked off the day with his first stage win of the weekend. As the Finnish driver set a time one second faster than Josh McErlean to top the stage. Robert Virves finished third fastest on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Pajari and 1.4 seconds slower than McErlean. Kajetan Kajetanowicz was fourth fastest on the stage, 1.8 seconds slower than Virves. Nikolay Gryazin rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing two seconds slower than Kajetanwoicz.
SS4, Olecko 1
Kajetan Kajetanwoicz took home the stage win on the fourth stage of Rally Poland 2024. Setting a time 0.3 seconds faster than Sami Pajari. Pierre-Louis Loubet finished third fastest on the stage, 4.1 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz and 3.8 seconds slower than Pajari. Nikolay Grayzin posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Loubet. Miko Marczyk and Lauri Joona tied for the fifth fastest time on the stage, with both drivers finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS5, Stanczyki 2
Sami Pajari kicked off the afternoon loop with his second stage win of the weekend. As Pajari posted a time 6.4 seconds faster than Kajetan Kajetanwoicz to top the stage. Robert Virves finished third fastest on the stage, 7.4 seconds slower than Pajari and 1 second slower than Kajetanowicz. Josh McErlean was fourth fastest on the stage, 1.8 seconds slower than Virves. Oliver Solberg rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.1 seconds slower than McErlean.
SS6, Wieliczki 2
Kajetan Kajetanowicz topped the sixth stage of Rally Poland 2024. With a time 0.2 seconds faster than Robert Virves. Sami Pajari was third fastest on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz and 1.4 seconds slower than Virves. Oliver Solberg and Pierre-Louis Loubet tied for fourth fastest on the stage. With each driver finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Pajari.
SS8, Mikolajki Arena 2
Miko Marczyk topped the final stage of the second day of his home event. As the Polish driver finished with a time 0.1 seconds faster than Robert Virves to top the stage. Oliver Solberg and Georg Linnamäe tied for third fastest on the stage, with each driver finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Virves. Martin Prokop and Roope Korhonen rounded out the top five on the stage with yet another tie in time. As the pair of drivers finished 0.2 seconds slower than Linnamäe and Solberg.
Two Stages Cancelled, One Red Flagged
SS3 and SS7 were cancelled due to spectators being in unsafe positions. Hence the absence of both stages above. SS6 was also red-flagged for a short while for the same reason but was not cancelled.
Rally Poland 2024 Day Three Rundown
The third day of Rally Poland will see drivers contest 124.1 km across 7 more stages. Including the 22.4 km Czarne stage. The day will feature two service points, including one 40-minute at the day’s midpoint and one after the day has been completed.
The first day of Rally Poland 2024 has come to an end. Oliver Solberg leads the WRC2 class after the days lone stage.
Shakedown
Nikolay Grayzin topped the WRC2 class in the Rally Poland 2024 shakedown stage. Gryazin set a time 0.2 seconds faster than Roope Korhonen to top the shakedown stage. Miko Marczyk finished third fastest on the shakedown stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Gryazin and 0.4 seconds slower than Korhonen at his home event. Georg Linnamäe was fourth fastest on the shakedown stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Marczyk. Josh McErlean rounded out the top five on the shakedown stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Linnamäe.
SS1, Mikolajki Arena 1
Oliver Solberg kicked off Rally Poland 2024 with a stage win after going head-to-head with the Rally1 car of Martins Sesks. Solberg was 1.4 seconds faster than Roberto Diapra to top the stage. Nikolay Grayzin was third fastest on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Solberg and 0.2 seconds slower than Diapra. Gus Greensmith and Sami Pajari tied for fifth fastest on the stage, with both drivers finishing 0.1 seconds slower than Gryazin. Miko Marczyk was the fastest of the Polish drivers, finishing 6th, 0.5 seconds slower than Greensmith and Pajari and 0.3 seconds ahead of Koltun and Kajetanwoicz.
Rally Poland 2024 Day Two Rundown
The first full day of action will see drivers contest 113.5 km across 7 stages. Including the 29.4 km Stanczyki stage. As previously mentioned the day will not feature a service until the end of the day. The teams will then get 45 minutes to service the cars. The day does feature a midpoint tire fitting zone. The day will end with another running of the same SuperSpecial stage as day one. Thierry Neuville will be on road sweeping duties. Followed by championship rivals Ott Tänak and Elfyn Evans.
The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round 7 Orlen 80th Rally Poland.
Championship Rundown
Yohan Rossel holds the WRC2 championship lead heading into the midpoint of the season. Rossel won’t be in attendance this weekend, so his 23-point lead over Jan Solans will likely be much smaller by the end of the weekend. Although not because of Solans who is also absent this weekend. Championship hopeful, Oliver Solberg will look to take advantage of both the returning event and Rossel and Solans absences. As Solberg sits just 5 points behind Solans and 28 points behind Rossel, with one round in hand. Sami Pajari sits tied with Solberg for third, and will likely look to take the same advantage as Solberg. Nikolay Gryazin, who has only scored at two rounds this season sits fifth, three points behind Solberg and Pajari.
First Time Since 2017
Rally Poland will make its return to the WRC for the first time since 2017 this weekend. The reigning event winner at the WRC level is Thierry Neuville. Other previous winners of the historic event include Andreas Mikkelsen and Sebastien Ogier. Both Mikkelsen and Ogier will be in attendance this weekend. Mikkelsen will be making his gravel debut in the Rally1 car. While Ogier will be looking for his third win at the event or yet another podium finish.
Day Breakdowns
Day One
The first day of Rally Poland kicks off with a lone SuperSpecial stage. The stage is 2.5 km in distance. Not much time should be gained or lost during the stage. However, crews will have to be careful as there is no service until the end of the second day of the event.
Day Two
The first full day of action will see drivers contest 113.5 km across 7 stages. Including the 29.4 km Stanczyki stage. As previously mentioned the day will not feature a service until the end of the day. The teams will then get 45 minutes to service the cars. The day does feature a midpoint tire fitting zone. The day will end with another running of the same SuperSpecial stage as day one.
Day Three
The third day of Rally Poland will see drivers contest 124.1 km across 7 more stages. Including the 22.4 km Czarne stage. The day will feature two service points, including one 40-minute at the day’s midpoint and one after the day has been completed.
Day Four
The fourth and final day of Rally Poland will see teams contest 63.06 km across 4 stages. Including the 20.8 km Gmina Mragowo stage. The 10.73 km Mikolajki stage will serve as the Wolf Powerstage. There is no midpoint service or tire fitting zone on the day. Meaning drivers will have to both preserve the car and tires as much as possible on Super Sunday.
Reigning Junior World Rally Champion William Creighton has made the move up to the WRC2 category, but how has he done so far this season?
Finding Pace
William Creighton has contested four of his seven WRC2 scoring rounds. However, he has only managed to take home points in one of those events. That event was the Croatia Rally where he finished 10th in class. This isn’t much of a concern for the young Irishman. As the WRC2 championship is arguably the most difficult championship in the WRC. As a large entry list of drivers is at every European event. Which makes it hard to get into a scoring position, especially for a young driver with little experience in a WRC2 car. Creighton’s main priority this season is getting comfortable in the WRC2 car. Next season he can begin to focus more on the results. It is worth mentioning that Creighton does have a handful of top-five stage times under his belt already.
What To Expect From Creighton
The 26-year-old Irishman as previously mentioned shouldn’t be overly concerned with results at this point in time. His top priority should be getting comfortable in the car and finding pace based on that. No driver has jumped into a WRC2 car and put up great results instantly. Next season will be the bigger question for Creighton. As it will be his sophomore year in the car and results will be expected after a certain point. The M-Sport team behind Creighton knows not to push the youngster too far this early on. They may start pushing him a bit around the end of the season, but it wouldn’t be a large push. Just something like setting a slightly higher expectation. Overall there’s nothing to be concerned about at this point with Creighton, he is still the same driver who won the Junior World Rally Championship.
Sami Pajari will make his top-class debut during the eighth round of the 2024 WRC season, Rally Latvia.
Stepping Up
Sami Pajari has been a star for the last two seasons in the WRC2 category. Spending last season in a Toksport run Škoda, Pajari took home his first WRC2 win at his home event in Finland. He also managed to take home podiums in Sweden, Estonia and Chile to finish seventh in the championship. This season Pajari moved to a Printsport run Toyota Yaris Rally2. The 22-year-old has finished on the podium at every event he’s scored points at. Finishing second in Sweden and taking home the win in Sardinia earlier this month. For Rally Latvia Pajari will step into a fourth Toyota Yaris Rally1. Pajari will join Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and one of Kalle Rovanperä or Sébastien Ogier for the event.
Not The Only One
Pajari won’t be the only one making his top-class debut in Latvia. As Martins Sesks will also be making his debut that weekend. However, Sesks will be driving a hybrid-less M-Sport Ford Puma. Pajari will be driving a full-spec Toyota Yaris Rally1. Pajari and Sesks have a bit of history with one another. As both drivers battled one another in the Junior WRC Championship years ago. I’m 2020 Sesks finished second in the championship, just three points ahead of Pajari. The next year Pajari won the championship while Sesks finished third.
What To Expect From Pajari
Much like Sesks, don’t expect much from Pajari over the course of the weekend. As he will have to learn a brand new car throughout the weekend. That being said I wouldn’t be surprised if the 22-year-old put up some top-five stage times throughout the weekend. If I had to guess an overall finishing position for Pajari it would be somewhere between 5th and 7th out of the 10 rally1 cars attending the event. Looking at past statistics Pajari hasn’t done bad on fast gravel rallies, which is what Latvia is. Once he learns the car he shouldn’t have a difficult time keeping up with some of the regulars like Takamoto Katsuta. Plus that prediction also keeps in mind others may have issues throughout the weekend.