The X3000 rally challenge e-sports tournament has concluded

The e-sports tournament X3000 LV Virtual Rally Challenge took place in anticipation of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Latvia stage Tet Rally Latvia. Initially, during June, participants competed in qualifiers across three stages to determine the four fastest finalists. Then, on July 11th, at the special start event of Tet Rally Latvia in Rīga, the Grand Final of the X3000 Rally Challenge took place. Ralfs Sirmacis emerged victorious, winning the main prize – a drive on the Biķernieki track in the WRC stage.

The X3000 Rally Challenge consisted of three preliminary rounds held from June 1st to June 30th, with each round lasting ten days. Participants initially competed virtually in stages of the Rally Estonia (June 1-10), followed by stages of the Rally Finland (June 11-20), and concluded with stages of the Rally Sweden (June 21-30). To intensify the already challenging X3000 Rally Challenge into truly thrilling competition, qualifying rounds were conducted at the highest difficulty level, Hardcore Damage, to determine the fastest e-sports driver.

In the overall standings of the three preliminary rounds, Ralfs Sirmacis emerged victorious with 292 points. Roberts Binovskis finished second with 274 points, Mārtiņš Bembers secured third place with 251 points, and Rainers Līcis-Līcītis earned the last ticket to the grand final with 218 points.

On July 11th, these four fastest e-sports drivers competed at the Tet Rally Latvia start event in Rīga Town Hall Square, fighting for the opportunity to drive a real rally car on the FIA World Rally Championship stage at Biķernieki. The X3000 Challenge Grand Final consisted of two stages: a semifinal comprising two rallies with four stages each, and a final where the two fastest drivers competed in an additional four stages. They were competing for the main prize provided by Tet Rally Latvia and X3000 – a ride in the Sports Racing Technologies team's rally car on the first stage of the Latvian WRC event – SSS1 Biķernieki Track.

In the semifinal, each stage awarded points from 4 to 1 based on performance, determining the two e-sports drivers with the highest total points for the final round. The first part of the semifinal featured a virtual rally in Portugal, where Binovskis narrowly edged out Sirmacis by one point, while Bembers and Līcis-Līcītis followed closely behind. In the second round, drivers competed in a virtual rally in Sardinia, where Sirmacis excelled by winning every stage, earning maximum points and accumulating a total of 29 points, securing his place in the final. Binovskis also performed well here, securing the second spot in the final. Rainers Līcis-Līcītis claimed the third spot on the X3000 Rally Challenge podium, while Mārtiņš Bembers took fourth place in the challenge.

The final took place in the Safari Rally Kenya, where in the first stage, Sirmacis was faster by 11.265 seconds. In the second stage, Binovskis managed to reduce Sirmacis lead slightly, completing the stage 1.656 seconds faster. In the last two stages, which were also the longest, Sirmacis again demonstrated his speed, finishing the four stages with a total lead of 14.674 seconds over Binovskis. Sirmacis will have the opportunity to drive on the Biķernieki track's WRC stage next Thursday, July 18th, testing it out before the world's fastest rally crews.

“WRC rally is a historic event for Latvian sports and fans! X3000 is delighted to be alongside such a high-level organizing team as RA Events and participate in shaping this exciting event!” said Rihards Streiķis, X3000 marketing manager in Latvia.

“It was challenging because there wasn't enough time for me to properly prepare for this big final, so I decided to drive cautiously and without taking risks to avoid any mistakes. In the end, it turned out to be the right decision. I want to thank the organizers for such an event, and I hope similar ones will continue in the future to further develop e-sports culture in Latvia,” said Ralfs Sirmacis, the winner of the X3000 LV Virtual Rally Challenge.

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.