11.09.2013

This weekend, from 13th to 15th of September, the best drivers and navigators of the Baltic region and Russia will compete for championship titles in the rally-raid „Latvian Baja 2013“.  This will take place in the forests and roads of Latvia. Not only will world class drivers be competing, but also Russia’s finest, since this competition is organized as the final stage of the Russian championship.

Among the participants of class T1, representing Finland, Belorus, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Ukraine and other countries, there will be a leader of the current Russian championship and winner of several World cups in rally-raid Vladimir Vasilyev („G-Force Motosport“). Among the contestants of class T2 there will be Ilya Kuznetsov („Ferrumin“) - he has participated in several World cup stages, the prestigeous Dakar rally and has won several Russian championships. Among pilots we will see also Konstantin Zhiltsov – he is the pilot of the remarkable french sportsmen Jean-Louis Shlesser, and has participated in more than dozen stages of Dakar rally, „Eco race“ in Africa, as well as in the Russian championship.

„My goal is to win – can there be another plan for the one who is obsessed with rally-raid,“ says Vladimir Vasilyev, current leader of Russian championship. Although he likes to participate in races in Russia, because, as the saying goes, „even walls are helping at home“, the sportsmen admits that the rally-raid in the territory of Latvia will be a great challenge for him and other contestants. The route is rather complicated, he admits. „Lots of curves – it’s my cup of tea! It will be a tougher race for those who dislike them,“ explains V.Vasilyev.

In the race „Re Autoclub“ will be represented by sportsmen from Finland – Tapio Suominen and Jouni Ampuja. T.Suominen, who’s succesfull debut (2nd place) in this rally-raid took place last year, is ready for the gruelling race of 600 km. Also J.Ampuja, the chief instructor of the Juha Kankunen driving academy, has had a succesfull start this year in the Russian Championship already – he had good results in the first stage that took place in St.Petersburg, and also took part in the 2nd stage of Championship in Astrakhan.

„This experience will help me a lot, because it is more or less a new sport for me. After two races, altough we didn‘t get to finish the second one, I got really good feeling from it, and now I know what to expect. I want to see how will we manage the next race,“ J.Ampuja says. „It is a long race, and there are many difficult places and corners. On those sections where I know what’s going on, I will go as fast as possible, I will be quick as possible,“ J.Ampuja promises. He is glad to compete with other sportsmen who, in his opinion, all are high level professionals and fast drivers.

„Skills, reaction and knowledge of the road’s geometry of drivers and navigators will be tested within the 600 km long distance of roads and offroad in the districts of Viesite, Jekabpils and Madona. Roads in Latvia do not have the same bends, the cover of the route is constantly changing from slippery grass to gravel,“ explains Robert Elbakjan, the organizer of the rally-raid and the founder of „Re Autoclub“.

While the speed and adrenaline will be in charge of sportsmen, the general public will have a great opportunity to get to know contestants and their cars in much more relaxed atmosphere. All who are interested in this rally-raid are invited to visit service parks in Jekabpils sports stadium and in Madona‘s camping ground „Smeceres sils“ on the eve of 13th and 14th of September, there will be a chance to see preparation of cars for the race. The teams will parade during the opening of the rally-raid on the 13th of September at 17.15 o’clock in the central square of Jekabpils as well as on the 15th of September in Saieta square in Madona, where the best will receive their trophies.

„In „Latvian Baja 2013“ there will be enough to see to those who like speed as well as to those who are inquiring how sportsmen are overcoming difficult roads and great challenges,“ says R.Elbakjan.

Attention: Due to the race at different times there will be road closures in the districts of Selpils, Viesite, Krustpils and Madona from 13th till 15th of September.

The rally-raid „Latvian Baja 2013“ is organized by “Re Autoclub” in cooperation with the Russian Automobile Federation.