WRC Tet Rally Latvia ready to kick off

The long-awaited debut of Latvia on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar has arrived, with the historic first WRC round in Latvia, Tet Rally Latvia, taking place this weekend. The rally will start on the evening of Thursday, July 18, with an Opening ceremony in Old Rīga and the first special stage of the rally in Biķernieki track. In the following days, the rally will move through Tukums region, Talsi and Talsi region, Kuldīga region, Dienvidkurzeme region, as well as the rally city Liepāja, where the Tet Rally Latvia service park will be located throughout the rally.

Safety

Motorsports can be dangerous, so we kindly ask Tet Rally Latvia spectators to be especially cautious, consider the circumstances, follow safety rules, and adhere to the instructions of marshals and other officials. It is important to remember that it is strictly forbidden to move on the special stage surface 30 minutes before the start. The green tape means that standing in that specific area is permitted, whereas it is prohibited in all other areas. We ask rally spectators to observe these rules and instructions; otherwise, safety delegates of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) may decide to cancel the stage, thus spoiling the rally experience for both the violators and other spectators.

Additional safety risks are associated with the Rally1 HYBRID cars of the most powerful WRC class, which use high-voltage batteries and other electrical components. All three factory teams – Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, and M-Sport Ford World Rally Team – use hybrid engine cars. As an additional indicator, these hybrid cars have easily recognizable white HY letters on a red background on their doors, as well as a light indicator on the windshield and both side windows. Normally, you will see a green light indicator in the windshield and on both side windows, indicating that the car’s electrical system has no technical issues, and it is safe to approach and touch the car. However, if the indicator shows a red light (or if the light is off altogether), everyone nearby must take the highest safety precautions and avoid approaching or touching the car due to the risk of electric shock. In such a case, contact rally personnel, who will provide further instructions on the necessary actions.

Service Park

This year, the rally service park in Liepāja has found a new home, relocating to the area near the Northern breakwater before the FIA World Rally Championship event. During the preparation period, the area has been improved, including strengthening its surface. In the service park area, not only will you find the impressive motorhomes and tents of the WRC manufacturer teams, but also a specially adapted rally headquarters zone made from Ramirent containers, media centre, and fan zone. The fan zone will also feature a screen where all the special stage live broadcasts can be watched.

While the cars are in the service park with the mechanics, spectators will have the opportunity to meet rally leaders and hear comments from team principals about their experiences during the day. These Meet the Crews sessions will take place in the fan zone of the service park – the first on Friday evening around 20.40, and the second on Saturday around 21.15. Read more about the activities in the service park here: https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/tet-rally-latvia-service-park-next-to-liepaja-northern-breakwater.

Special Stages

In Latvia's debut on the world rally map, Tet Rally Latvia competitors will compete in 20 special stages, covering the capital city Rīga and the rally city Liepāja, as well as Talsi and Talsi region, with stages also taking place in Tukums region, Kuldīga region, and Dienvidkurzeme region.

On the early morning of Thursday, July 18th, Tet Rally Latvia will start with the Shakedown stage in the Dienvidkurzeme region. In the afternoon, a special opening ceremony will take place at Rīga Town Hall Square, marking the ceremonial start of the rally, followed by the first special stage at the Biķernieki track.

On Friday, July 19th, Tet Rally Latvia crews will head to Tukums and Talsi regions, as well as Talsi town, where they will complete a total of seven special stages.

On Saturday, July 20th, rally activities are expected in Kuldīga region in the first half of the day. In the afternoon, special stages will take place in the Dienvidkurzeme region, with the day concluding with a super-special city stage in Liepāja.

On the closing day of the Tet Rally Latvia, July 21st, crews will start in the Dienvidkurzeme, concluding the rally at the Vecpils Autotrack, where the awards ceremony will also take place. For a detailed list of stages, you can find more information here: https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/next-stop-in-wrc-calendar---tet-rally-latvia.

Official Event Programme

The Tet Rally Latvia Official Event Programme is a document that not only features spectator points but also provides descriptions and other useful information for rally visitors. It's particularly helpful for first-time attendees or those returning after a hiatus, offering directions on where to go and what to see. You can find the Official Event Programme here: https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/official-event-programme-now-available.

Opening Ceremony

Before the official opening ceremony begins at 15.30, a special basketball related activity is scheduled at Rīga Town Hall Square. It will feature both the Latvian national basketball team players and FIA World Rally Championship drivers.

The opening ceremony for the WRC Tet Rally Latvia, will start at 16.50 at Rīga City Hall, featuring performances by musical group Tautumeitas and the Andžeja Grauda drum school. Fans will have the opportunity to meet their idols, receive autographs from the world's leading rally drivers, and hear their comments before the start. The event begins with a ‘family’ photo of the leading WRC and Latvian crews participating in Tet Rally Latvia, followed by an autograph session and interviews with team managers and drivers. The ceremonial start will begin at 18.00, featuring speeches on the stage, followed by the rally crews driving through the narrow streets of Old Rīga and arriving at the base of the Freedom Monument for a historic photo shoot.

More about the opening ceremony here - https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/tet-rally-latvia-opening-ceremony-at-riga-town-hall-square

Biķernieki Track

The Biķernieki Track area will be open to visitors starting from 15.00, allowing them to settle into their preferred seating on the grandstands or find the best viewing spots at Witch's Cauldron (Raganas katls). Additionally, the Tet Rally Latvia partner zone will be operational, offering entertaining activities and a Sportland fan merchandise store. At 16.00, attendees can participate in a Latvian rally history quiz prepared by the Rīga Motor Museum. From 17.00 onward, screens at Biķernieki Track will broadcast live coverage of the Tet Rally Latvia opening ceremony happening at Rīga Town Hall Square.

Shortly before the start of SSS1 Biķernieki Track, at 19.00, spectators will be greeted with a special and entertaining show-race featuring Latvian motorsport stars and legendary rally cars. Once these cars complete their race, WRC crews will be arriving at Biķernieki Track from the opening ceremony. They will proceed to start the historic first WRC stage in Latvia—a thrilling and tricky challenge on the Biķernieki Track, covering a 11.13 km distance over two laps. This stage promises a significant test, with sections of car-racing circuit, motorcycle racing circuit, rallycross and karting tracks, and a challenging corner section set within a speedway stadium. For more details about the Biķernieki Track stage and activities, you can find further information here: https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/at-the-bikernieki-track-the-historically-first-tet-rally-latvia-stage-and-spectator-activities-even-before-the-start.

Rally Radio

Starting from Thursday morning, July 18th, Kurzemes Radio will begin broadcasting rally transmissions with the Shakedown stage. These broadcasts will continue in the evening with coverage of the opening ceremony and the first stage at Biķernieki Track. Throughout the rally weekend until Sunday afternoon, Kurzemes Radio will report on events from all special stages of Tet Rally Latvia, including post-finish comments from drivers. The radio station will feature expert analysis, various interviews from the service park, and important updates on the FIA World Rally Championship events in Latvia. It's worth noting that Kurzemes Radio will be one of the first places to learn about any schedule changes for Tet Rally Latvia. Additionally, this information will be presented in English to inform international spectators. Kurzemes Radio can also be streamed online at www.kurzemesradio.lv.

TV Translations

Throughout the entire season of the FIA World Rally Championship, fans can follow all the stages on Tet TV platforms, including Tet TV+, interactive Tet TV, and terrestrial Tet TV. Live broadcasts of all stages can be viewed on the Go3 Sport channels, featuring Latvian commentators Normunds Avotiņš and Krišjānis Caune in the studio.

Meanwhile, the live broadcast of the opening ceremony of the FIA World Rally Championship's Latvian round will be available on Latvia's Public Media TV channel LTV7 and on the website LSM.lv. Additionally, rally enthusiasts can also follow WRC events on the streaming platform RallyTV, where all stage broadcasts are available live and on-demand, supplemented by on-board camera recordings, reports, features, and interviews with participants from the service park.

WRC Food Festival

During Tet Rally Latvia, in the cities of Tukums, Talsi, and Liepāja where rally events will take place, there will be the WRC Food Festival. This festival offers visitors the opportunity to taste various dishes prepared by Latvian chefs and food vendors. It adds a culinary dimension to the rally experience, allowing attendees to enjoy a diverse range of local cuisines while soaking in the rally atmosphere.

On Friday, July 19th, the WRC Food Festival will be held in Tukums and Talsi. In Tukums, the food festival will take place on Uguns Street from 8.00 to 22.30. In Talsi, food vendors will be located on Lielā Street (near the intersection with Zvaigžņu Street) from 11.00 to 22.30. Meanwhile, in the rally city of Liepāja, the food festival will delight visitors over two days—Saturday and Sunday, July 20th and 21st—from 11.00 to 23.00. In Liepāja, the WRC Food Festival will be located opposite the Liepāja concert hall Great Amber.

In each of the rally cities, the variety of food available at the WRC Food Festival may differ, but visitors can expect to sample a range of styles and flavors, including craft burgers, Mexican tacos, and Thai bao burgers. For those with a sweet tooth, there will be options like ice cream stands and sweet bubble waffles. Additionally, refreshing drinks from a cocktail bar will be available to quench your thirst. For more details about the WRC Food Festival, you can find information here: https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/tet-rally-latvia-will-feature-food-festival.

Tet Rally Latvia parties

During Tet Rally Latvia, various entertainment programs are planned. On Thursday evening, the WRC Opening Day Afterparty will take place at Andrejostas Kvartāls. Throughout all four days of the rally, visitors can enjoy the WRC Liepāja Beach Festival on Liepāja Beach, featuring collaborations with beach bars and cafes like Cukurfabrik', Red Sun Buffet, and 7. līnija.

After the stages in Talsi and Talsi region on Friday evening, the club Ballīte Ballītē in Talsi will host a lively party. For more information about the parties and entertainment during Tet Rally Latvia, you can find details here: https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/tet-rally-latvia-will-feature-food-festival.

Tet Rally Latvia tickets available at Biļešu Paradīze online store www.bilesuparadize.lv.

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 Schedule

Thursday, July 18

20.05          SSS1 Biķernieki Track                                                                    

Friday, July 19

10.00          SS2 Milzkalne 1                                                                               

10.45          SS3 Tukums 1                                                                                  

12.00          SS4 Andumi                                                                                      

14.30          SS5 Milzkalne 2                                                                               

15.15          SS6 Tukums 2                                                                                  

16.30          SS7 Strazde                                                                                      

17.20          SS8 Talsi                                                                                            

Saturday, July 20

08.20          SS9 Pilskalns                                                                                    

09.35          SS10 Snēpele                                                                                   

11.30          SS11 Īvande                                                                                     

13.05          SS12 Vecpils 1                                                                                 

16.15          SS13 Podnieki                                                                                  

17.05          SS14 Vecpils 2                                                                                 

19.00          SS15 Dinsdurbe                                                                               

20.15          SSS16 Liepāja City Stage                                                               

Sunday, July 21

08.55          SS17 Krogzemji 1                                                                            

10.05          SS18 Mazilmāja 1                                                                           

11.55          SS19 Krogzemji 2                                                                            

14.15         SS20 Mazilmāja 2 (Wolf Power Stage)

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, Kurzemes Radio, 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.

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