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…
Europe
M-Sport Return to Rally Stages ’20
Most recently, I wrote about Rally di Alba, from which Hyundai WRC team boss A. Adamo made a celebration in Italy with his connections and enthusiasm, even bigger than the European Rally Championship event that took place in Rome. Now a tribute to the local rally community is made by another man in charge of the WRC team. This time it’s Malcolm Wilson and M-Sport. So M-Sport Return to Rally Stages.
Rally di Alba ’20
This period after opening the walls until the first stage of the WRC in Estonia is interesting, because various rallies in Europe which received only a constellation of local significance, this summer accept such guests and their equipment that they could only dream of before.
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.
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.
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.
Test Rally Sosnova ’20
Although the first waves of official championships have already started, we will touch the tests once again. A few weeks ago, all the cream of the Czech rally gathered in the northern part of the Czech Republic, where the Sosnova track is located. It is used very widely – rally, rally-cross, drift, and other disciplines are located there. The track is used also in the Richard Burns Rally game, which has two versions of it. And people gathered there because the start of the country rally championship is near. So it was the perfect opportunity to train the muscles and metal to be able to push in the Bohemian Rally from the first kilometers. Test Rally Sosnova.
Kisvaszar Rally 3 ’20
After a long and freezing period, when motorsport had to move to the virtual space, a kind of spring finally comes. The first blossoms are a various team and co-organized tests designed to get petrol flow back in the veins of cars and petrol heads. A few more weeks later, the first small-scale events were launched. Little by little, everything is trying to get back to the old tracks. Kisvaszar Rally 3.
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.
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
