Tet Rally Latvia start event in Riga will take place on July 11
On Thursday, July 11th, the Tet Rally Latvia start event will take place at Riga Town Hall Square, officially marking the final countdown – one week until the opening ceremony of the FIA World Rally Championship round Tet Rally Latvia. At the event, fans will have the opportunity to meet crews of local drivers Mārtiņš Sesks, Matīss Mežaks, and Artūrs Priednieks and see their rally cars up close. Additionally, they will be able to witness the rally cars in action as the crews perform start demonstration runs in Old Riga, followed by a symbolic drive over the Akmens Bridge and a family photo on the AB dam.
The start event at Riga Town Hall Square is symbolically scheduled exactly one week before the official opening ceremony of the eighth round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), Tet Rally Latvia, which will also take place at this exact location. During the start event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet all three Latvian driver crews participating in the Latvian round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship: Mārtiņš Sesks / Renārs Francis, Matīss Mežaks / Arnis Ronis, and Arturs Priednieks / Jānis Kirkovalds. Meet and greet atmosphere is expected to ease the evening, allowing spectators and fans to chat with the crews, get their autographs, take photos with the drivers, or simply wish them luck for the rally. The start event will begin in the middle of the day at 14.45 with the final races of the X3000 LV Virtual Rally Challenge e-sports tournament taking place on stage. After a month of preliminaries divided into three stages, the four fastest virtual drivers will now compete for the title and the grand prize – the opportunity to sit in the Latvian rally team’s Sports Racing Technologies rally car on July 18th and be driven along the first special stage of Tet Rally Latvia at the Bikernieki track.
While the drivers will gather for an autograph session at 18.30 spectators will have the unique and rare opportunity in Latvia to see the FIA World Championship's leading Rally1 class car up close – the M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID, which Sesks / Francis will drive in Tet Rally Latvia. Additionally, Town Hall Square will feature two Rally2 category cars, which will be driven in the upcoming rally by the crews of Matīss Mežaks and Arturs Priednieks. The event will also include performances by the dance studio Yaam and video greetings from FIA World Rally Championship Manufacturer drivers and team principals.
The event will culminate around 19.40, when the crews will head to their cars and start them up. A few minutes later, they will take the wheel and, under the supervision of officials, perform an improvised rally stage start. The rally cars will accelerate along Kaļķu Street past the former Riga Technical University building. At the end of the event, all three rally crews, escorted by the State Police, will cross the Akmens Bridge and gather on the AB dam for a photoshoot with the Old Riga skyline in the background.
"Speed and power that we haven't seen so far are approaching Riga and Latvia, and I am truly proud that the this rally festival will start right in Riga. During these days of rally the vibe of Riga city will gain new horizons, as hosting a round of the FIA World Rally Championship special stage in Latvia is highly appreciated by Riga, and is perceived not only with great responsibility, but also as a celebration in the city for its residents and guests. With great joy we welcome WRC competitors, teams, drivers, and motorsport fans from all over the world, and I am sure that Tet Rally Latvia will be one of the most grandiose events this summer, which will positively enliven Riga from the city centre to the excellent Biķernieki track," says Riga City Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis.
“I am very pleased that the city of Riga also enjoys taking on various challenges to host such an unusual, but certainly powerful events. I invite rally enthusiasts and city visitors to take advantage of this opportunity to not only see up close but also hear and watch the powerful rally cars in action – including the M-Sport team's Rally1 car, which Mārtiņš Sesks crew will drive in the first Tet Rally Latvia in just a few days! This is something that simply isn't possible every day! And besides, motorsport drivers are just like basketball or hockey players, they also need to feel the support of their fans. So come and give them encouragement with your presence before the upcoming FIA World Rally Championship round in Latvia!” Tet Rally Latvia director Raimonds Strokšs to attend the start event in Riga.
TET RALLY LATVIA start event
Thursday, July 11
14.45 X3000 LV Virtual Rally Challenge, big final
17.00 X3000 LV Virtual Rally Challenge, prize giving ceremony
18.30 Autograph session
19.00 Official part of the Tet Rally Latvia start event
19.40 Start-up of the rally cars
19.50 Improvised rally start
19.55 Passage the Akmens Bridge
20.15 Family photo on AB dam
News and other information about the Tet Rally Latvia, round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), available at www.lvrally.com, as well as on social media X @LVRally, Facebook @LVRally, Instagram @lvrally, and TikTok @tetrallylatvia. While, news about the FIA World Rally Championship available at www.wrc.com.
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, Sportland, and X3000, official car partner Toyota, as well as sponsors BTA, Fristads, and SIXT. Thanks to our partners Canon Biznesa Centrs Liepāja, Latvijas Valsts meži and municipality of Dienvidkurzeme. Informative support provided by news portal DELFI, Sporta Avīze un Talsu Vēstis. Thanks to Tet Rally Latvia supporters shopping malls AKROPOLE, AOK, Ballīte Ballītē, Biķernieku trase, Conti STL, Conway, CSDD, DHL, Eco Baltia vide, Elnetworks, Flora, FN Serviss, Getic, Jānis Pūce, Löfbergs, Liepāja Special Economic Zone, MB Grupa, Mission Latvia, OCT Composites, Peltors, Rentadisplay, Rīgas Brīvostas pārvalde, Riga Motormusem, SignTech, Swecon, Swan, 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 here: http://www.lbaf.lv/lv/ka-ziedot.