In one documentary about extremely old times when men sacrificed their lives to reach the limits of their own and cars , I heard an interesting comparison. Motorsport is like climbing out a window reaching that limit before you just fall out. And in history, those falls were not one and not two. Hundreds. Or maybe even thousands. Taking away even those who watch that spectacle. Once upon a time, death in motorsport was completely common and taken for granted. Times have changed little by little and today the situation is completely different. And while racers still “fall through the windows” to reach the limits, modern security technology in most cases allows that fall to survive. So I decided to ask those we look at with awe standing next to the special stages. What do they think about limits? Why are they are reaching them and what processes are going on at the time? So, Limits and Rallying.
Continue reading…Lithuania
Around 7 Lakes Rally ’20
Things in the first 2020 months in Lithuania were not at the best. After Dakar, only one positive thing was to watch on WRC+, as Deividas Jociuscius was reaching his dreams to start in WRC Monte Carlo with the latest spec WRC car. And he proudly made it. But after that, since winter took a vacation, the only news you were about to hear – another canceled event due to warm weather. And then later mister quarantine knocked on the door saying – no more rallying for You.
Continue reading…Rally Elektrėnai ’20
The Lithuanian rally caravan, having traveled to the western and northern regions of the country, turned a little further south, to Rally Elektrėnai. A fun-filled season has been somewhat hampered by the renewed theatre of mask’s restrictions, but the community’s stubbornness seems to be far greater than the obstacles, so we’re successfully moving on. As one canceled event is replaced by another, guests are given all the help to reach our country and although part of the Elektrėnai Rally program was canceled, it has been compensated by the pace of the participants and excellent views in the special stages. Not to mention the impressive work of the media teams when you can actually experience the rally on the couch. Not yet WRC +, but at such a pace…
Continue reading…Samsonas Rally Rokiškis ’20
Last year there was also an article from this Samsonas Rally Rokiškis. A very famous guest, Tonni Gardemeister was visiting Lithuania at that time. Unfortunately, technical problems stopped his rally with Samsonas prepared BMW M3. This year there was no Tonni, but there was his company (TGS Worldwide) car, Škoda Fabia Evo2 in a field, driven by a 2019 Finland champion Teemu Asunmaa. He was one of three main candidates to take a Samsonas trophy. The second one – last year winner, Lithuania rally champion and Dakar rally star – Vaidotas Žala with the older version of Škoda Fabia R5, serviced by SRT. And I mentioned Sports Racing Technologies not without the reason. 5 years this company was the main companion for a third contender to win a Rally Rokiškis. Now, – Nikolay Gryazin is a Hyundai factory team driver.
Continue reading…Adrian Sadowski
This rally was the first in 18 years old Gracjan Predko’s rally career. A tough one for a debut I would say. So let’s hear more about it from his co-driver – Adrian Sadowski.
Continue reading…Krzysztof Bubik
Last weekend Lithuania rally championship officially started. The first two snow rounds were canceled due very warm winter in the Baltic region. Third round, a month late due to lockdown happened successfully. It was meant to be also a Polish championship event, but You know that plans and the year of 2020 do not merge well. And it seems that the other 3 remaining rounds will happen without a problem, which is great news for rally fans here in Lithuania. The one-day event was won by Rally and Dakar rally driver Vaidotas Žala with Škoda Fabia R5. For quite of time, he has no one to stop here. Simply he is too good. But there were many battles in all classes. Fights until the last meters were happening for 2nd place and for the 2WD winner. But I will not spread about it more, because I have an interview with one guest, who visited us from Poland. He is Krzysztof Bubik. For the first time in Lithuanian stages – he was very quick and impressive with his BMW M3 E46. Only technical problems seized his final result.
So, Krzysztof Bubik is on the plate.
Dyteris Manfredas Gocentas (Fred Gocentas)
There quite a number of rally masters born or raised in Lithuania. And most of them are known for Lithuanians. But there is one Lithuanian surname that is well known in the World Rally Community, especially in Australia, and vice versa in Lithuania. Fred Gocentas.
Continue reading…Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo ’20
This year, every Lithuanian motorsport enthusiasts found interesting phenomena. On the sad side, the first two rounds of the Lithuanian Rally Championship were canceled when winter forgot to visit this part of Europe. But at the beginning of January, serious men shook hands and lifted their hats and helmets against Vaidotas Žala and Saulius Jurgelėnas which drove the Dakar’s first stage as the leaders should drive, fast and error-free, winning the opener. Then, at the other end of the world, young Gustas Grimbergas stepped on the podium in Australia as the LMP2 AM winner in the Asia Le Mans series. And in the end, when you turned on the broadcast of the World Rally Championship, you could see and hear something that few Lithuanians have even dreamed of. There, in the French Alps, M-Sport car was guided with Lithuanian pace notes with Deividas Jocius behind the wheel. He is the first Lithuanian to start with the WRC car in modern WRC history. So briefly I will honor this event -Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo
Continue reading…Samsonas Rally Rokiškis ’19
When autumn comes, it’s a lot of fun to remember things that happened in the summer. Samsonas Rally Rokiškis was a good affair in the northern part of Lithuania. Samsonas name and quality of the rally attract very interesting participants. Some are doing better, others – worse. And what happened in early August? Fastest Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Žala with his Škoda Fabia R5 left no chances for others in Rokiškis region roads. But with this article, we will not tell a great Lithuanian rally epic, but rather honor a rare guest on the stages, but a very active person in a rally world. And past years only Lithuanians have the opportunity to see the legend flying on their country’s roads. Since 2012, Toni Gardemeister has only one official competition a year. He visited Latvia, Estonia, even the Barbados Rally described earlier. Well, for the last two years the Finn has been playing Lithuanian gravel roads with the BMW M3.
Continue reading…
