Double start of WRC Tet Rally Latvia in Riga
Today, in the conference hall of the Riga Motor Museum, the press conference for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) round Tet Rally Latvia took place. The event was attended by Riga Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis, chairman of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) Aivars Aksenoks, and director of Tet Rally Latvia Raimonds Strokšs. The conference presented to the wider public both the rally activities planned in the capital and the first special stage of Tet Rally Latvia planned in Riga, with which the historic first WRC round in Latvia will start in the evening of July 18th at the Biķernieki Track.
This year, from July 18th to 21st, Latvia will become the 37th country to host a round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), established in 1973. Tet Rally Latvia will be the eighth stage of the 2024 WRC Calendar. Before visiting capital city Riga, Tukums, Talsi, Kuldīga and the Dienvidkurzeme region, as well as rally city Liepāja, the fastest rally crews in the world will also have visited rallies in Monte Carlo, Sweden, Kenya, Croatia, Portugal, Italy, and Poland.
"I believe that Latvia, Riga, and other cities have long deserved this event. This dream has finally come true, with such longstanding traditions in motorsports, where the enthusiasm of people has been promoting the development of various forms and disciplines of motorsport for decades. I am immensely proud that the start is taking place right here in Riga. I think this will be one of the biggest events of this summer, although there are many big events planned in Riga this year and in the coming years. This summer, we will have a special fan zone at Dome Square, where fans will be able to not only watch the Riga special stage, but also follow all the events of the Latvian WRC round over the weekend. My philosophy about the capital city is that it needs such large-scale events, so we are also working on various such major events. It is the city's task to make life interesting, attract tourists who enjoy the hospitality services, and this is also what contributes to our economy," Riga Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis.
This will not be the first time that high-level sports competitions have taken place at the Biķernieki racetrack. From 2016 to 2022, a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship took place at the national sports base. This year, with one of the special stages of Tet Rally Latvia taking place at the Biķernieki racetrack, the track will be comparable to another quite legendary circuit – Monza in Italy, where WRC stages were held in 2020 and 2021.
"This is probably the moment to praise ourselves, because in recent years the Biķernieki track has gained significant recognition, not to mention its historical traditions. In fact, no sports complex or track would matter without good cooperation with sports organisers, athletes, and event organisers. Only then is the track alive, and only then can it develop. When we started rallycross, we had to invest a lot to create a good track, and now various level competitions take place, both international and Latvian championships. The same goes for the speedway stadium, where there will be world-class competitions again in September. All of this helps the circuit to develop, as well as athletes, whom sometimes drive us crazy, because they want a lot. We really try to do everything because we know that everything will be done well, especially if we have a partner like Raimonds Strokšs and RA Events. It is a good thing that such major sports events take place here. I remember one of the first years of rallycross, when Mārtiņš Sesks watched the race from the grandstands as a teenager with his father. Now we know him as one of the best European rally drivers, and we will be able to see him in this world rally event as well. As a representative of CSDD, I am also very pleased that many young people participate in races, enjoy the speed here in the races, and serve as a good example to others that speed and aggressive driving are needed on the track, not on the road. It is a great honour and pride for us that the start of this event takes place here, in Biķernieki. We are actively preparing, and everything will be in order at the Biķernieki track! There is no doubt that the Biķernieki name will be heard globally, along with WRC!" Aivars Aksenoks, Chairman of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate.
With the press conference in Riga today, a series of events is being launched, during which representatives of Tet Rally Latvia will visit all the cities where special stages of the World Rally Championship take place. In each city, they will provide detailed information about the planned activities in the respective city and region, as well as offering clarifying answers to questions from those present.
In the conference hall of the Riga Motor Museum, the activities planned for the capital city of Riga were more extensively presented. On July 11th, a special start event is scheduled to take place at Riga's Town Hall Square, exactly a week before the opening ceremony of Tet Rally Latvia, marking the first start for the FIA World Rally Championship stage planned in Latvia. A week later, right there – by the Riga City Council building – the opening ceremony of Tet Rally Latvia will take place, offering the opportunity to meet the crews, participate in an autograph session, and hear driver comments before the start. Following this, the crews will embark on a parade through the Old Town, culminating in a historic photoshoot by the Freedom Monument.
Finally, all Tet Rally Latvia crews will be welcomed at the Biķernieki racetrack, where the competitive part of the rally will truly begin – the first special stage, whose route will include sections from all the Biķernieki track zones – the drift track, car and motorcycle circuit, speedway stadium, oval, as well as the rallycross and karting tracks. The SSS1 Biķernieki Track route will start at the Seventeenth turn of the track, then lead along the permanent grandstands and through the twists of the karting track to the Speedway stadium. The special stage route will then continue to the Elbow turn and motorcycle circuit, including the tricky series of corners known as the Witch's Kettle, after which, upon entering the rallycross track, the crews will face a change in surface – performing two jumps – both the big jump and one of the parallel jumps. It is planned that the crews will complete this route twice, with the total length of the special stage being 10.80 km.
"As the organiser of the competition, I eagerly await July, when once again we will bring high-level motorsport – this time, the first stage of the WRC Latvia rally at the Biķernieki track! The days of July in Riga promise to be hot not only literally but also figuratively – we will kick off the competition with an unprecedented start event at Riga's Town Hall Square, where we will meet Latvian crews before the start and assess their rally car performance. Meanwhile, just a week later, we will invite everyone back to Riga's Town Hall Square for the impressive opening ceremony of Tet Rally Latvia, after which the drivers will make a parade drive along the streets of Oldtown Riga, and stop at the Freedom Monument before heading to the Biķernieki track – where we have planned a unique special stage for the spectators. Not only because, unusually for a rally, spectators will be able to watch the action from grandstands, but also because the special stage is designed so that each crew can be watched repeatedly. I hope that spectators will appreciate the unique location of the Biķernieki track and take the opportunity to go to the special stage by public transport, visiting the designated event entertainment zones as well. Moreover, the three-hour special stage will provide another unprecedented opportunity – to change one's viewing position – by watching the competition from some of the grandstands at the Biķernieki track or going to the Witch's Kettle, where a special festival atmosphere awaits them for three hours," says Raimonds Strokšs, director of Tet Rally Latvia.
Considering the latest changes in the technical regulations of the FIA World Rally Championship, starting from the 2025 season, it is planned to abandon the use of the hybrid unit, thereby reducing the costs of the cars, but, at the same time, also reducing the overall power of the cars. This means that for the first time in hosting the FIA World Rally Championship round, Tet Rally Latvia spectators will have the opportunity to witness historically the most powerful and fastest rally cars ever driven by WRC crews.
“What does a successful WRC event mean? Firstly, the top sporting concept – you have that – very challenging and full of variety, so many different regions across Latvia are involved. From capital city Riga to the rally city Liepāja on the shore of the Baltic Sea. Secondly, the top professional organisation, you have also that. Well structured, hard work with a qualified team. What you have achieved so far in the ERC and the rallycross is already fantastic. Thirdly, super passionate fan base from Latvia will create a special atmosphere, we are sure, and many will also come from neighbouring countries. Furthermore, with TV3 and all the other media cooperation’s, we have great distribution in the region, which means we will achieve an exceptional return of investment for all your partners of Tet Rally Latvia. Ladies and gentleman, let us write another big success story together with you. See you in Latvia!” WRC Promoter director Jona Siebel.
Tet Rally Latvia activities planned in capital city Riga
THURSDAY, JULY 11 Start event at Riga's Town Hall Square
MONDAY, JULY 15 Administrative checks and reconnaissance for the SSS1 Biķernieki Track
THURSDAY, JULY 18 Opening ceremony and parade, Old Town and Monument of Freedom
THURSDAY, JULY 18 SSS1 Biķernieki Track
THURSDAY, JULY 18 Parc fermé
THURSDAY, JULY 18 Fan zone, Dome Square
FRIDAY, JULY 19 Fan zone, Dome Square
SATURDAY, JULY 20 Fan zone, Dome Square
SUNDAY, JULY 21 Fan zone, Dome Square
Tet Rally Latvia, round of the FIA World Rally Championship, is set to take place on July 18-21, 2024. The event is possible thanks to the support provided by Ministry of Education and Science, rally city Liepāja and capital city Rīga, as well as municipalities of Tukums, Talsi, and Kuldīga. Special thanks to general sponsor Tet, many thanks to our main sponsors Ramirent and Sportland, official car partner Toyota, as well as sponsors SIXT and BTA. Thanks to our partners Canon Biznesa Centrs Liepāja, DHL, Fristads, Latvijas Valsts meži and municipality of Dienvidkurzeme. Informative support provided by news portal DELFI and Sporta Avīze. Thanks to Tet Rally Latvia supporters AKROPOLE, Biķernieku trase, CSDD, Elnetworks, Flora, FN Serviss, Jānis Pūce, Löfbergs, MB Grupa, Mission Latvia, OCT Composites, Peltors, Rentadisplay, SignTech, Törley, Travel Latvia, as well as technical partner Sports Racing Technologies. Tet Rally Latvia is organised by RA Events in cooperation with Speed Festival Kurzeme and Latvian Automobile Federation.
Tet Rally Latvia supports initiatives carried out by Latvian Children's Support Centre,
who has created and are developing social rehabilitation facility for children with special needs.
We invite you to support this initiative, by making a donation: http://www.lbaf.lv/lv/ka-ziedot.