„RE Autoclub’s” traditionally organized rally „Riga Baja” this year from September 21st till September 23rd will take place in surroundings of cities Jēkabpils, Madona and Rugāja. For participants of russian championship’s fifth stage this is going to be far more serious challenge than last two years because track is going to be 160km longer than previous years.

In last two years „Riga Baja” has been included in Russian rally schedule and usually in Latvia, 2010 and 2012 is determined final clarity about the places. Participants are able to apply for this race from August 20th, till 17th of September, when final list of participants will be announced

So far, four stages out of five have been driven in this years Russian rally championship. In February participants competed in rally „Belogorje”, in April – „Zoloto Kagana”, June – „Simbirskij Trakt”, July – „Silk Way”. Decisive race in order to win medals is going to be in Latvia.

Champions of Russian championship in truck car group were already congratulated after „Silk Way” stage. Pilot of „Kamaz-master” Eduard Nikolayev with helmsman Sergey Savostin won the title, which was fourth title for him in Russian championships.

Before the start in „Riga Baja” main applicants for the victory in whole championship are Sergey Savenko who is currently a leader and Vladimir Vasilyev who is in third position. Currently they have 38 and 30 points. Considering that in season’s total, only three best results from all will be considered, for both of the pilots it will be enough with a victory in Latvian rally to win the championship title in total. Latvian pilot Aldis Vilcāns, who represents russian team „Rusj-Sport” currently is in sixth position.

In year 2010, russian athlete Boriss Gadasin with „Nissan Pick Up” became champion of „Riga Baja”. He represented russian team „G-Force Motorsport”. Then he was ahead of his closest rival Jānis Naglis („RE Autoclub”, „Mitsubishi Pajero”) by six minutes and 30 seconds. Third place in total was won by Aleksander Mironenko („Nissan Frontier”) who was representing team „T1”.

In „Riga Baja” year 2011, which began in Riga, but next two days continued in Jēkabpils, Salas and Viesīte surroundings, title was won by Russian athlete Aleksander Zheludov („Nissan Frontier”, „Protechsport”). Zheludov in total was ahead of his closest rival Bogdan Novicki („G-Force Proto”, „Kievrallyraid” by four minutes and 13 seconds. Best of the Latvian athletes was „RE Autoclub” representative Raivis Zeltiņš with „Mitsubishi Pajero EVO”, who won third place in total.