[ERC] Rally Liepāja-Ventspils

[PLuto]

I think it is time to start this hread.

Rally Liepāja-Ventspils 2013
01. - 03. 02. 2013

official pages: Rally Liepaja-Ventspils (http://www.lvrally.com/?lang=en)

[PLuto]

Rally Guide is available here - Rally Guide | Rally Liepaja-Ventspils (http://www.lvrally.com/rallija-gids/?lang=en)

[GL Media Pro]

We already reserved the hotels....

[VFTS]

Whats the winterconditions in the area? Is it like a real nordic winter(like Finland, Norway and Sweden)?

[PLuto]

According to my info durin February there should be very low temperature. But maybe some latvian friends will tell us more info.

[bluuford]

February should be the coldest month in western Latvia. However, you can see very variable weather in February there. Bit like in Rally Sweden. It can be around -30, but it can be +5 as well. Long term models tell that its should come colder winter than average.

[PLuto]

Weather really should be very changeable. I have seen it on Valais this year. +28 on Thursday and snow calamity on Saturday evening...

[Mirek]

How does Valais in October 2012 relate to Latvia in February 2013?

[PLuto]

Only with notice, that weather could be very changeable.

[tommeke_B]

That weather CAN be very changeable you mean? ;) The weather in Valais this year must've been an exception...

[PLuto]

It was not exception, I remember two years ago it was similar, but in reverse order (snow during recce and much better weather during race). But I agree that we are little bit off topic as this is about Rally Liepāja-Ventspils :)

[sindroms]

Rally directors Raimonds Strokšs todays tweet (@RaimondsStroksh (https://twitter.com/RaimondsStroksh)) - "I am on my way to Czech Republic. Which one czech driver do we need on february in ERC? :) "

So... PLuto, Mirek - which one do we need? :D

P.S. Rally "Liepāja - Ventspils 2013" twitter account - @LVRally (https://twitter.com/LVRally)

[Mirek]

There may be more than one... ;)

[PLuto]

We will see. I hope to meet Raimonds on dinner today evening ;)

[Gatis Klemencis]

Dear Rally drivers and spectators. D't hesitate ask any question about rallying in Latvia and specialy ERC Rally Liepaja-Ventspils. And/our specific questions about our country. We with pleasure will try answer :) SEE YAA in Latvia

Gatis

[sindroms]

@LVRally (https://twitter.com/LVRally) - "Bryan Bouffier, French rally driver and winner of the 2011 Monte Carlo Rally, showing interest for the start at Rally Liepāja-Ventspils."

[noel157]

In 208 R2?

[Tinke1979]

Hello! Me and couple of my friends are planing to go this event.. Any recommends on where to take hotel/hostel/guesthouse?
And is there any good crash places on 2013 event? :)

[sindroms]

Hello! Me and couple of my friends are planing to go this event.. Any recommends on where to take hotel/hostel/guesthouse?
And is there any good crash places on 2013 event? :)

See PM ;)

[garais22]

Jean-Pierre Nicolas today visit Rally Liepāja-Ventspils roads
These are words from Nicolas:
- If these stages were musical masterpieces, Mozart would be the composer
- The roads are as good as in Finland
- Vecpils stage can be best in a world

Welcome to Latvia! :)

[sindroms]

Jean-Pierre Nicolas today visit Rally Liepāja-Ventspils roads
- Vecpils stage can be best in a world


Vecpils stage - classic version:
Maris Neiksans Rally Kurzeme 2010, SS6 - Vecpils - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Och2NZ_ExhE)

[Adler]

Vecpils stage - classic version:
Maris Neiksans Rally Kurzeme 2010, SS6 - Vecpils - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Och2NZ_ExhE)

great stage + imo great driving....did this guy any international events so far?

[Mirek]

Sure he did NORF several times.

[Adler]

Sure he did NORF several times.
thanks, checked 2011 NORF-result, Maris was beating haydon, 1st in Cl.3, so indeed he will be somebody to watch in his home event :)

[sindroms]

thanks, checked 2011 NORF-result, Maris was beating haydon, 1st in Cl.3, so indeed he will be somebody to watch in his home event :)

In NORF 2011 raced Andis Neiksans. Mari's younger brother. Mari's has been in NORF for several times too, for example in 2007, and he is very well skilled driver. Or was... He didn't participate in Latvian championship last year and now has switched to his own team creating.

[Allar]

Is Entry's open? Can we see list online?

[sindroms]

Is Entry's open? Can we see list online?

Application starting from 1st of December. On-line - Rally Liep (http://lvrally.com/eng/rally/competitors)
Home page is seriosly updated:
- info about tickets - Rally Liep (http://lvrally.com/eng/spectators/tickets)
- rally shop - Rallijs Liepaja-Venspils Rally Liepaja-Vanspils » Johaidi (http://rallijs.johaidi.com/en/)

[garais22]

Rally legend Jean-Pierre Nicholas compares Latvian roads with music and Mozart - Go4speed (http://www.go4speed.lv/lv/news/autosports-pasaule/1626-rallija-legenda-latvijas-rallija-celus-salidzina-ar-muziku-un-mocartu/)

[PLuto]

I dont remember event, where JPN tell that roads are bad :)

[sindroms]

So far, so good [weather conditions]. And more to come :)

https://twitter.com/zlemba/status/275956752267239426/photo/1

[Allar]

any entrys?

[Georgi]

Probably too soon.
What's the entry form deadline ?

[sindroms]

Probably too soon.
What's the entry form deadline ?

15 of January 2013.

[Allar]

so we cant see registered crews before entry list?

[sindroms]

so we cant see registered crews before entry list?

Organizers still waiting from FIA approval for rally regulations (there is hope for this week). As soon they will recievied it, current entries will be published here - Rally Liep (http://www.lvrally.com/eng/rally/competitors) At least I understood so...

Stage maps will be released on first dates of January.

[sindroms]

So, rally regulations are available - Rally Liep (http://lvrally.com/eng/competitors)

[sindroms]

Promo video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsDnK6k5TVg

[Seppala]

Are the stage maps already available?

[Mirek]

Look 3 posts back...

[Seppala]

Look 3 posts back...
sorry, must have overred that.

[mousti]

Marco Tempestini will start

Verstuurd van mijn SK17i met Tapatalk

[Tinke1979]

We have booked hotel rooms from Liepaja and are ready to go :)

[mm1]

You'll enjoy it!

[Allar]

Looks like i cant make it this year, just cant find anyone to join me, and its too expensive for me to come alone. I hope this event will take place again in 2014 :)

[sindroms]

First entries - Rally Liep (http://www.lvrally.com/eng/rally/competitors/ec)

[modri dirkac]

Slovenian Aljoša Novak (Škoda Fabia R2) will be there, too.

[sindroms]

Updated entry list:
Rally Liep (http://www.lvrally.com/eng/rally/competitors)

[RS]

Any chance of some big names going to this rally? It would be a shame if not after the good start to ERC in Austria, and it looks like an interesting rally.

[WUff1]

As he said today at Jänner Rallye, Bouffier hopes to go, but budget is not totally sure

[Kielder]

According to Julian Porter, Jari Ketomaa will participate in the rally at the wheel of a Fiesta RRC. He will use DMACK tyres on the car.

[Kielder]

"Winter is coming". ;)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OsDnK6k5TVg

[RS]

According to Julian Porter, Jari Ketomaa will participate in the rally at the wheel of a Fiesta RRC. He will use DMACK tyres on the car.

Great news, now let's hope he has some competition...

[bluuford]

The bad news is the fact that there is not much snow, but good news is the fact that those minus degrees are going to freeze the road surface and tomorrow there will be some light rain that cahnges to wet snowfall and then to proper snowfall and after the end of that there should be frozen road, covered with some fresh ice and then up to 10 cm of new snow. And if everything goes according to the prognozes then there will be -20 degrees by the beginning of next week.

[Kielder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHZBGGENj4s


Great news, now let's hope he has some competition...

You forgot Inessa Tushkanova. Ukrainian driver will be a good rival, won't she? ;)

[pantealex]

You forgot Inessa Tushkanova. Ukrainian driver will be a good rival, won't she? ;)

Her co-driver is nowadays from Finland, so YES!

[Kielder]

First S2000 on entry list: János Puskádi in a Škoda Fabia S2000. We can also see Raimonds Kisiels in a MINI JCW RRC, scoring points for both ERC and National Championship.

Provisional entry list (http://www.lvrally.com/eng/rally/competitors/ec)

[had_zachau]

finally it doesn't look R2 and N/R4 cup

[ururu]

other entry list ERC LR? (http://autorally.lv/?l=2&m=21) and + LRC LR? (http://autorally.lv/?l=2&m=22)

[had_zachau]

Jaroslav Orsak with Evo IX

[Tinke1979]

How many drivers will they take to drive in there? So what is the max number of drivers if all went well?

[garais22]

Rally Liepāja - Ventspils organizer: In this rally will be some very well known drivers (http://www.go4speed.com/lv/news/rallijs/1740-strokss-liepaja-ventspils-rallija-bus-ari-paris-skalaki-uzvardi/)

[Mirek]

Jan Černý said he would like to start but it's not sure now.

[zajic]

Also Vojtěch Štajf (Subaru) is going to start in Latvia after his start in Lapland. The plan was to start with two cars, but Petr Kačírek damaged his hatchback Impreza on Janner heavily, so who knows. Next week will be press conference of Subaru czech team.

[Jeppe]

Jan Černý said he would like to start but it's not sure now.

I would like to have ´dislike´ button but here isn´t any :-/

[Mirek]

Why?

[qbus]

Slovenian Aljoša Novak (Škoda Fabia R2) will be there, too.

Young Polish driver Tomasz Kasperczyk in Fabia R2 also will start in this rally and other ERC rounds.

[Bartek]

Young Polish driver Tomasz Kasperczyk in Fabia R2 also will start in this rally and other ERC rounds.

I heard about EVO X but now with Fabia R2

[Mirek]

From CZ also Ondřej Bisaha and Zbyněk Baller (both Civic VTi). Both did Jänner too.

[Jeppe]

Why?


= dislike not seeing him

In other words... I´d like to see him in Latvian stages ;)

[Mirek]

Aha :) So far Orsák, Tlusťák, Bisaha and Baller are confirmed from CZ. Orsák and Tlusťák will do also Halls Winter Rally as preparation. Černý and maybe some other Czech entries are still possible.

[sindroms]

Aha :) So far Orsák, Tlusťák, Bisaha and Baller are confirmed from CZ. Orsák and Tlusťák will do also Halls Winter Rally as preparation. Černý and maybe some other Czech entries are still possible.

Yes, there will be some other entrie from Czech :)

[had_zachau]

sindroms: Stajf?

[shaperzrally]

Dear locals can you tell us who to watch from the baltic drivers?

[jliivak]

Dear locals can you tell us who to watch from the baltic drivers?

My favorites, from drivers who are on the list now: Alexey Lukyanuk , Vytautas Švedas, Siim Plangi, Rainer Aus

[Tinke1979]

Still a low amount of entries and no Jari Ketomaa in the list yet...

[sindroms]

Still a low amount of entries and no Jari Ketomaa in the list yet...

Organizers updating entry list once in a week. So no worries and possible line-up looks promising :)

[sindroms]

sindroms: Stajf?

Also :)

[atsiotras79]

Ketomaa - Fiesta RRC!

[PLuto]

Ketomaa - Fiesta RRC!

This was confirmed week ago - Autosport (http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=14756)

[sindroms]

Entries are closed. 45 crews in ERC and 44 in National championship. Totally almost 80 crews (some crews are in both championships) from 17 countries. In current entrylist 12 nations are represented... so let's see ;)

[Adler]

Hannes Danzinger announced his start with R3 Clio today

ERC: Lettland-Rallye 2013 - 2013 - Rallye - motorline.cc (http://www.motorline.cc/rallye/2013/Rallye-EM/ERC-Lettland-Rallye-2013-M%C3%B6chte-die-Tabellenf%C3%BChrung-behaupten-175460.html)

Google Übersetzer (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=de&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorline.cc%2Frallye%2F2013%2F Rallye-EM%2FERC-Lettland-Rallye-2013-M%25C3%25B6chte-die-Tabellenf%25C3%25BChrung-behaupten-175460.html&act=url)

[sindroms]

Chairman of the Liepāja City Council testing stage - sportacentrs.com (http://sportacentrs.com/motoru_sports/rallijs/16012013-teste_rallija_liepaja_ventpils_atrumposmu)
He will be "01" crew also :)

[Tinke1979]

Where can we see the official entrylist? On the events web pages there is only 31+31 entries...

[Plhus]

And maps?? :)

[sindroms]

In final entrylist:

- Delecour
- Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000)
- Jan Černy (Škoda Fabia S2000)

And who is Jean-Michel Raoux(?) ?

[Mintexmemory]

In final entrylist:

- Delecour
- Craig Breen (Peugeot 207 S2000)
- Jan Černy (Škoda Fabia S2000)

And who is Jean-Michel Raoux(?) ?


Currently struggling in the Monte in his Peugeot. Not at the level of Bouffier

[vino_93]

And winner of IRC 2WD Cup 2011 ;)

[PLuto]

Hannes Danzinger announced his start with R3 Clio today

Not only Danzinger, but also Consani - Autosport (http://www.autosport.cz/clanek.php?cl=14813)

[Jarek Z]

Currently struggling in the Monte in his Peugeot. Not at the level of Bouffier

And very far from that level ;)

[RS]

Sounds like a better entry list in the end than we thought then.

[mousti]

Is it confirmed he'll actually start Jan Cerny, because there was doubt around that?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Craig Breen for Latvia ... :)

http://www.ralsys.com/irally_admin/news_images/2013LatviaLogo40.jpg (http://irallylive.com/ir_news.htm?00002818#)
François Delecour, Craig Breen and Jari Ketomaa head the S2000 line up at Latvia's Rally Liepāja-Ventspils Latvia, the next round of the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship, which gets under way on February 1.

Delecour and Breen drive Peugeot 207 S2000s, Ketomaa a Ford Fiesta RRC.

There are 8 S2000 cars in the field, with Antonin Tlustak and Jan Černý in Škoda Fabias and Jean-Michel Raoux in a 207 also amongst the entries.

The Production entries include Marco and Simone Tempestini and Turán Frigyes in Subaru Imprezas, and Vitaliy Pushkar in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. In all, 10 Evos are entered.

In 2WD, Robert Consani heads the field in his Renault Clio.

42 entries for the ERC event: over 40 more taking part in the national event as part of the Latvian Rally Championship.

[Tom206wrc]

Fantastic news the return of Breen :bounce:

[Jarek Z]

It's also nice to see Elwis Chentre on the entry list.

[Andre Oliveira]

Delecour is my bet to winning :)

[pucky54]

Delecour is my bet to winning :)

Only possible if Kronos take some snow tires to Latvia ;)

[PLuto]

Delecour is my bet to winning :)

Pickems will be ready after publishing of official entry list ;)

[sindroms]

Dear locals can you tell us who to watch from the baltic drivers?

Now when entrylists are closed I would say:

In ERC list:
- Lukyanuk (RUS) - ok, not quite the local guy, but in last year, in his first full season in 4WD, made furore in Latvian and Estonian championships, consistently starting to collect podiums. Definitely worth to follow him.
- Jeets, Plangi, (both EST), Švedas (LIT), Egle (LAT) - TOP10 N4 drivers in Baltic
- Sirmacis (LAT) on Fiesta R2 - 18 years old Latvian, youngest Latvian champion ever, 4th place in "Fiesta Sporting Trophy Shootout 2012"
- Gryazin (RUS) - well funded and wise managed by his father Stansilav Gryazin, 3rd place in Russian Championship 2012.

In National championship list:
- Vorobjovs (LAT) - most spectacular driver in Baltic rally. Very aggressive and wide driving style, but very fast in same time.
- Aus (EST) - Estonian champion 2012 in N4
- Kõrge (EST)
- Feldmanis (LAT)

[Georgi]

Is Breen making full season in ERC ? Any idea about that?

[Georgi]

I really like Alexey Lukyanuk. He is fantastic driver and ....very very fast.

[jliivak]

I really like Alexey Lukyanuk. He is fantastic driver and ....very very fast.
He just crazy, you can watch some examples on youtube, like 2012 moments from him

[sindroms]

He just crazy, you can watch some examples on youtube, like 2012 moments from him

I would not say so. Just perfect car control. Yes, plenty of close calls but so far always managed get back without major loses.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFBgy7zXomk&list=UU3G7-TPqjkvxb_I7iurR70Q&index=1

[Tom206wrc]

2012 Junior Volant 207 winner Stéphane Lefèbvre at the wheels of a 208 R2 in Latvia very exciting news :cool:

[Georgi]

Good news Tom206wrc !

[sindroms]

Is Breen making full season in ERC ? Any idea about that?

Craig Breen ‏@Craig_Breen (https://twitter.com/Craig_Breen) Finally I can tell you all, my dream has come true. I am the new @peugeotsport (https://twitter.com/peugeotsport) Factory Driver in the ERC this year! Amazing feeling!

[Bartek]

Craig Breen ‏@Craig_Breen (https://twitter.com/Craig_Breen) Finally I can tell you all, my dream has come true. I am the new @peugeotsport (https://twitter.com/peugeotsport) Factory Driver in the ERC this year! Amazing feeling!

I like him, he is fast, he has talent but, to be honest i don't think that he can be faster than Bouffier in ERC...

Good for ERC, one more good driver

[bluuford]

I would not say so. Just perfect car control. Yes, plenty of close calls but so far always managed get back without major loses.

Not always.. like 09:30. He was there for a looooong time. But anyway, very spectacular driver, not very kind to the car

[pucky54]

Lukyanuk = "Kuzaj Version 2.0" :D :D

[Jarek Z]

Lukyanuk = "Kuzaj Version 2.0" :D :D

I don't think so. Not enough crashes ;)

[pucky54]

I don't think so. Not enough crashes ;)

Thats why its 2.0 and not 1.1 :D :D :D

[shaperzrally]

Now when entrylists are closed I would say:

In ERC list:
- Lukyanuk (RUS) - ok, not quite the local guy, but in last year, in his first full season in 4WD, made furore in Latvian and Estonian championships, consistently starting to collect podiums. Definitely worth to follow him.
- Jeets, Plangi, (both EST), Švedas (LIT), Egle (LAT) - TOP10 N4 drivers in Baltic
- Sirmacis (LAT) on Fiesta R2 - 18 years old Latvian, youngest Latvian champion ever, 4th place in "Fiesta Sporting Trophy Shootout 2012"
- Gryazin (RUS) - well funded and wise managed by his father Stansilav Gryazin, 3rd place in Russian Championship 2012.

In National championship list:
- Vorobjovs (LAT) - most spectacular driver in Baltic rally. Very aggressive and wide driving style, but very fast in same time.
- Aus (EST) - Estonian champion 2012 in N4
- Kõrge (EST)
- Feldmanis (LAT)
Thanks sindrome!

[br21]

Lukyanuk is very fast driver indeed, and he is crashing very rarely for driving so fast and being so unexperienced in 4wd cars... his driving style looks aggressive, but I would say he is pretty "natural' with the car and he is not damaging engines, drivetrains, etc.

[darkstar]

some incredible saves, very fast reactions!

[KKSF]

Rally season 2013 in Latvia is on! Rally Alūksne-2013. -23C (Liepaja,Ventspils -10C. Snow conditions are same.)
KKSF HD video: (A lot of mistakes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FxOfDmZxk4

[Plhus]

I would like to ask your advice if we have an attractive place to track rally. Attractive corner, interesting sections, jumps ...

[Tom206wrc]

I like him, he is fast, he has talent but, to be honest i don't think that he can be faster than Bouffier in ERC...

Good for ERC, one more good driver


Bouffier maybe not, but in Var last year Breen proved to be at least at the same level as Cédric Robert(another french reference) ;)

[sindroms]

I would like to ask your advice if we have an attractive place to track rally. Attractive corner, interesting sections, jumps ...

I'm quite sure - that spot will be in 1st day route. Notorious place, called "Shumskiy bend", not driven in winter though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SJJRRbJVNTo#t=40 s

[Plhus]

Nice place :) Where is on the map??

[sindroms]

Nice place :) Where is on the map??

Try this - Latvijas karte, R (http://www.balticmaps.eu/?lang=lv&centerx=350730&centery=6281827&zoom=1&layer=map&ls=c)
It should open (in big zoom ratio) at that spot.

[Tinke1979]

I'm quite sure - that spot will be in 1st day route. Notorious place, called "Shumskiy bend", not driven in winter though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=SJJRRbJVNTo#t=40 s


If there is a high snow wall then this place is not so good, but if the wall is low I will be there! :)

[eestlane]

I would not be surprised when Lukyanuk is going to beat all the others. Its going to be a very tight fight i think between him and the S2000 boys

[mm1]

For first timers it's difficult enough, it's that kind of corner, where you don't see the consequences during recce at low speed. There's one more very crash prone corner in this stage (allthough I don't know if that place will be in the stage aswell), it's from the Vecpils side ~ 2 km in the stage (the common summer version). Actually this stage is one of the best in whole Latvia, and I love it, driving it with a good codriver, it's like music, it's got a flow like few others, very fast, but as soon as you loose the line, you're gone. Oh, those memories :)

[Plhus]

Try this - Latvijas karte, R (http://www.balticmaps.eu/?lang=lv&centerx=350730&centery=6281827&zoom=1&layer=map&ls=c)
It should open (in big zoom ratio) at that spot.

This test will be run in reverse... :(

[mm1]

That place is good even in reverse.

[sindroms]

This test will be run in reverse... :(

Will see. Let's wait for a stage maps...

[mousti]

This is nice

rallijs-mod (http://www.bright.lv/rallijs/gatavs3/)

[sindroms]

Stage maps available in Google Earth - Rally Liep (http://www.lvrally.com/eng/rally/rally-maps)

[mousti]

Any link to the entry list? Can't find it on their site..

[stefanvv]

Any link to the entry list? Can't find it on their site..

http://www.fiaerc.com/uploads/files/eventdetail/2/fia_erc_rally_liepaja-ventspils_entry_list.pdf

[had_zachau]

Jaryn Orsak

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s480x480/27308_562133317149762_1657133937_n.jpg

[Mirek]

Good luck to Lukyanuk overtaking Tlusťák...

[br21]

Good luck to Lukyanuk overtaking Tlusťák...

Isn't there qualifying stage which will decide about starting positions?

[pucky54]

Isn't there qualifying stage which will decide about starting positions?

Yessssss :D

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Craig Breen - ERC 2013:

http://www.craigbreen.com/images/homepage/tn_1358795128.jpg

Craig Breen will be taking part in eight ERC events. He will also, along with other drivers, be tasked with leading the intensive test programme for the 208 Type R5, starting next week on gravel.

The 2012 SWRC Champion has long been loyal to Peugeot, since he made a significant contribution to the development of the 208 R2, in testing and competition, and he is already very familiar with the 207 Super 2000, having driven it on many an occasion in the IRC. The young Irishman now acquires the status of Peugeot Sport factory driver. Craig will be part of the Saintéloc team, competing in the colours of Peugeot Sport, Total, Michelin and Sparco.

Craig Breen: "This is incredible and beyond my dreams. I am really excited to work with a manufacturer like Peugeot Sport, I think of it since I was a young boy. To arrive here in front of a nice season is a good position to be in. My objective is to show good speed and challenge for some victories on a regular basis. For the testing program, I will give the best I can to support the development of the 208 Type R5”.



Breen's provisional calendar:

· Rally Liepaja-Ventspils (Latvia) (G & S), 1-3 February.

· Rallye Açores (G), 25-28 April.

· Tour de Corse (T), 16-18 May.

· Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally (T), 27-29 June.

· Rally San Marino (G), 11-14 July.

· Rally Poland (G), 26-29 September.

· Rallye Sanremo (T) 10 -12 October.

· International Rallye du Valais (T), 7-9 November.

[Mirek]

br21, pucky: Dzienkuje bardzo, danke sehr :)

[ururu]

;) Twitter / Marco_Bonini: @i_tushkanova livery @FIAERC ... (http://twitter.com/Marco_Bonini/status/294196653206933505/photo/1)
inessa tushkanova - (http://www.google.com/search?q=inessa+tushkanova&hl=ru&client=safari&tbo=u&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aVYCUfqBPIfh4QSJ5ID4Bw&ved=0CDwQsAQ&biw=1279&bih=639)

[bluuford]

Once again the weather might turn the rally to something that is not expected (It was nice winter weather for the whole month and it changes just for the rally weekend). Looks like ERC is not going to have a snow rally, but bit more like gravel, mud and ice rally. Nearly all models are shoing up to +5 degrees+rain for Wednesday, up to +3 degrees and rain for Thursday, +2 degrees for Friday and little rain, and +1..+2 degrees and wet snow for Saturday. Fortunately there was between -10.. and -20 degrees for quite a long period and therefore the road surface should last.But what tyres are they going to use? I am sure that ice layer between the forests is going to last for those + degrees, but I expect most of the snow to dissapear. I hope the weather model is overestimating + degrees, it usually does when the sea is already very cold and big part of it is frozen.

[Kielder]

The following drivers are designated priority crews and will be eligible to tackle QS next Friday:

1 Jari Ketomaa (FIN)/Kaj Lindström (FIN) Ford Fiesta RRC
2 Craig Breen (IRL)/David Moynihan (IRL) Peugeot 207 S2000
3 François Delecour (FRA)/Dominique Savignoni (FRA) Peugeot 207 S2000
4 Jan Černy (CZE)/Pavel Kohout (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000
5 Antonín Tlusťák (CZE)/Lukáš Vyoral (CZE) ŠKODA Fabia S2000 (pictured)
6 Alexey Lukyanuk (RUS)/Alexey Arnautov (RUS) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
7 Siim Plangi (EST)/Marek Sarapuu (EST) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4
8 Jaroslav Orsák (CZE)/David Šmeidler (CZE) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
9 Vytautas Švedas (LIT)/Žilvinas Sakalauskas (LIT) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
10 Raimonds Kisiels (LAT)Arnis Ronis (LAT) MINI John Cooper Works RRC
11 János Puskádi (HUN)/Barna Gódor (HUN) ŠKODA Fabia S2000
12 Vasily Gryazin (LAT)/Dmitry Chumak (RUS) Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX R4

[Adler]

;) Twitter / Marco_Bonini: @i_tushkanova livery @FIAERC ... (http://twitter.com/Marco_Bonini/status/294196653206933505/photo/1)
inessa tushkanova - (http://www.google.com/search?q=inessa+tushkanova&hl=ru&client=safari&tbo=u&rls=en&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aVYCUfqBPIfh4QSJ5ID4Bw&ved=0CDwQsAQ&biw=1279&bih=639)

3089
arctic rallye

[Vilius]

Nice Tushkanova liverry, but she is quite slow.

Some crews will participate in Hall Winter Rally (Lithuania) tommorow.

Here you can find live results:
rally-live.lt (http://rally-live.lt/)

[Plhus]

And where is this place? :)

http://autorally.lv/galery/g17/5H7J4450.jpg

http://autorally.lv/galery/g17/5H7J4734.jpg

Rally KURZEME 2011 (Jump in stage 5 & 7) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAtpV3a0_j8)

and this:

http://autorally.lv/galery/g18/2011_08_26_IMG_0187.jpg

[Ezhik]

Tushkanova won't compete in rally Liepaja-Ventspils because of serious crash in Lapland. She wrote about it in her twitter

[sindroms]

And where is this place? :)

http://autorally.lv/galery/g17/5H7J4450.jpg

http://autorally.lv/galery/g17/5H7J4734.jpg

Rally KURZEME 2011 (Jump in stage 5 & 7) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAtpV3a0_j8)

and this:

http://autorally.lv/galery/g18/2011_08_26_IMG_0187.jpg

Neither of those places in this year route.

[Kielder]

Photo of SS1:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBhlRLeCEAAWAPR.jpg:large

[PLuto]

But weather forecast is bad :(

[bluuford]

As I said, I hope the preliminary forecast is undeestimating the effect of partly frozen Baltic Sea. It might turn out that the temperature still drops below 0 from Friday evening.But lets wait a little.

[Kielder]

Let's wait seeing these pictures of SS2 & SS3:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBh2G7vCUAADoN3.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBitkuRCYAI812o.jpg:large

[sindroms]

As I said, I hope the preliminary forecast is undeestimating the effect of partly frozen Baltic Sea. It might turn out that the temperature still drops below 0 from Friday evening.But lets wait a little.

My most visited site in last week - Long term forecast for Kuld (http://www.yr.no/place/Latvia/Kuldigas/Kuld%C4%ABga/long.html) :D

[KKSF]

One more event in Baltics - Halls Winter Rally (Utena, Lithuania). Some participiants used this rally to prepare for Liepaja-Ventspils.
Spectacular jump included. ;)

KKSF HD video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-nKSd_3Ou4

[Rasantes]

Raimond Kisiels Mini JCW RRC

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/394803_465494703515477_1236260006_n.jpg

[had_zachau]

Jan Cerny

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/528970_422138241197365_815845547_n.jpg

[bluuford]

My most visited site in last week - Long term forecast for Kuld (http://www.yr.no/place/Latvia/Kuldigas/Kuld%C4%ABga/long.html) :D
Good news is the fact that weather might turn colder than initially forecasted. Long term models are usually not able to take into account the effect of very cold or even frozen sea.

Now it looks like there might be light snowfall tonight, just around zero degrees tomorrow (sheet ice forms very well). + temperatures arrive on Wednesday together with heavy rain. This heavy rain might change to very heavy wet snow-fall for some period, but mostly rain. This heavy rain/snow continues around 7 hours and temperature climbs up to +4. Rain stops on Wedesday evening. Some more light rain on Thursday and +3.. +4 degrees.. but.. the sky might clear up during the night and early morning (Friday) temperatures might be between -5..-10 already, it should climb to +1 by the midday. There will is not much precipitation visible during the rally. So, all that rain and melted snow should turn to ice by the begiining of the rally.
We migh expect very fast and flowing roads, covered by ice and no snowalls helping to keep the car on the road. That is something new for most of the drivers!

[Mirek]

Thank You Hannes, keep us informed :)

[had_zachau]

http://youtu.be/BC924H1GBtY

[PLuto]

I hope that info from Bluuford will come true, because today the weather changed a lot. Raining, lot of humidity, ice everywhere, temperatures around zero. -18 last week was much, much better.

[bluuford]

I hope that info from Bluuford will come true, because today the weather changed a lot. Raining, lot of humidity, ice everywhere, temperatures around zero. -18 last week was much, much better.

Yeah, it was raining close to the coast. I gave the information according to the location of the stages. Howevere, SS16 will be bad, It is very close to the see and I am note sure there is any snow or ice left by Saturday evening. But it is just a short sprint stage.

[Kielder]

Neither Raoux nor Tempestini will start :( .

Raoux forced to put ERC start on hold again - News - ERC European Rally Challenge - Eurosport (http://www.fiaerc.com/news/detail/id/163)

[Plhus]

Danzinger:

[attachment=1:3m5hxqkv]a90a7c46d1fb569f9f442259723a3b17.jpg[/attachment:3m5hxqkv]http://img.motorline.cc/rallye-2013-ERC-Lettland-Rallye-2013-static/article/images/a/a90a7c46d1fb569f9f442259723a3b17.jpg

[vino_93]

it seems that Raoux has lot of difficulty to start his program in ERC ...

[pantealex]

Neither Raoux nor Tempestini will start :( .

Raoux forced to put ERC start on hold again - News - ERC European Rally Challenge - Eurosport (http://www.fiaerc.com/news/detail/id/163)

Story says CONSANI will not start, nothing about Tempestini !

[Jeppe]

http://youtu.be/BC924H1GBtY

Very nice video - I definitely like it!
Driving also quite spectacular with those 15" WRC "so called" winter tyres. I hope he don´t need to compete with those in ERC Latvija...

[Kielder]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BBxlWsFCUAADwZx.jpg:large


Story says CONSANI will not start, nothing about Tempestini !

Oops! Fail! I read it in the afternoon and posted it later. My mistake!

[sindroms]

2011 Latvian champion Andis Neikšāns tells about safety. It's somehow... diffrent, more notable, when you hear it from skilled driver :) Rally Liep (http://lvrally.com/eng/galleries/videos)

[Mirek]

Oops! Fail! I read it in the afternoon and posted it later. My mistake!

Tempestini is on the way. Photo of his car loaded on a trailer is on autosport.cz forum ;)

[Mirek]

Very nice video - I definitely like it!
Driving also quite spectacular with those 15" WRC "so called" winter tyres. I hope he don´t need to compete with those in ERC Latvija...

Rally Latvia allows only 15" WRC tyres. That's also why Orsák and Tlusťák used them in Halls Winter Rally where classic narrow ones were allowed and used by locals. Anyway it's already known that Michelin will not supply all ordered tyres for Rally Latvia but only limited amount...

[Jeppe]

Rally Latvia allows only 15" WRC tyres. That's also why Orsák and Tlusťák used them in Halls Winter Rally where classic narrow ones were allowed and used by locals. Anyway it's already known that Michelin will not supply all ordered tyres for Rally Latvia but only limited amount...

Yep, you´re right. It is clearly shown in the Rally Regs. Actually, in the Fia Regional Regs it´s only possible to use 15" wheels in the gravel events. Snow event counts as a gravel event.
That is not very good for the ´local´ competitors because you can´t use any ´normal´ 16" winter studded tyres which are widely available in the Nordic / Baltic countries..

[bluuford]

There is parallel event running in Latvian Rally Championship and those who are competing only there are allowed to use different tyres. Two weeks earliel was Alūksne Rally where Siim Plangi was also using those WRC tyres to test them for the ERC. He told that he plans to run Rally Poland as well (in ERC), later in the year

[Plhus]

To Kielder:

How old is your photo?

[garais22]

To Kielder:

How old is your photo?
This picture in twitter was posted 7h ago. Last info from Liepāja - 0 degrees

More and fresh info about Liepāja - Ventspils rally can be found in https://twitter.com/Go4speedLV. Also in the http://www.go4speed.lv website there will be (in the last rally`s was) LIVE info from rally, stages, service park

[Jarek Z]

Very nice video - I definitely like it!

Yes, good video and great music too! Thanks for posting!

[PLuto]

Today was whole day around +1, snow and ice was leaving very quickly. In the evening mixture of snow and rain. We will see tomorrow...

[PLuto]

Francois Delecour will drive Peugeot from Munaretto.

[Ezhik]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vBdlYXQ7VIU#

[RS]

Francois Delecour will drive Peugeot from Munaretto.

Why is this? I thought he had an agreement with Kronos.

[bluuford]

Today was whole day around +1, snow and ice was leaving very quickly. In the evening mixture of snow and rain. We will see tomorrow...

Well, +1 was in Liepaja. And there is salt on the road that makes the ice to dissapear very quickly. You cannot find any salt on the stages held on the gravel roads :-) I followed the road temperature and air temperature for the whole day and it did not reach to + side on the day 1 stages. It is -1.6 degrees at the moment on the road surface (There is one road meteo station very close to SS1) and very light snow is expected overnight. Air temperature is just around zero. On such roads with a few + degrees and some rain the ice layer takes a lot of time to dissapear and often gets even thicker, especially when the ground is properly frozen.

But as expected, the warm air and rain arrives tomorrow (Between 10 and 11 AM) and cold air will be back on Friday early,early in the morning (between 01 and 02 AM) and by Friday evening there should be proper minus degrees. So, the snow leaves, maybe very thin layer arrives on Firday morning and most of the rally should be held in minus degrees, on the ice and frozen gravel and little snow in the forest and on the bigger snow-piles.

I will buy one beer in Rally Estonia for the competitor who retires because of getting stuck in the snow ;-)

[ASRTmedia]

FOTO: Testing with Vasily Gryazin before ERC Liepaja-Venstpils

http://www.facebook.com/ASRTMedia

[Kielder]

Why is this? I thought he had an agreement with Kronos.

Kronos didn't have a car available for the rally as it wasn't on the original schedule of Delecour. Jean-Pierre Nicolas helped him to find a solution with the Munaretto team. For the time being, Nicolas knows that the Frenchman is the highest attraction of the Championship.

[Jeppe]

Well, +1 was in Liepaja. And there is salt on the road that makes the ice to dissapear very quickly. You cannot find any salt on the stages held on the gravel roads :-) I followed the road temperature and air temperature for the whole day and it did not reach to + side on the day 1 stages. It is -1.6 degrees at the moment on the road surface (There is one road meteo station very close to SS1) and very light snow is expected overnight. Air temperature is just around zero. On such roads with a few + degrees and some rain the ice layer takes a lot of time to dissapear and often gets even thicker, especially when the ground is properly frozen.

But as expected, the warm air and rain arrives tomorrow (Between 10 and 11 AM) and cold air will be back on Friday early,early in the morning (between 01 and 02 AM) and by Friday evening there should be proper minus degrees. So, the snow leaves, maybe very thin layer arrives on Firday morning and most of the rally should be held in minus degrees, on the ice and frozen gravel and little snow in the forest and on the bigger snow-piles.

I will buy one beer in Rally Estonia for the competitor who retires because of getting stuck in the snow ;-)

Very good and informative report (as always). I´d say in other words that it´d be perfect rally weather if the surface of the stages will now go above zero and get back to below before the start. It will be very good for competitors / durability of the tyres..

..and Hannes I will buy you a beer if somebody won´t stuck in the snow ;) ;)

[Kielder]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BB11cSrCEAAwz53.jpg:large

[PLuto]

Bluuford is correct, today +3 and rain from 11 AM. Snow is leaving - and it is not because of salt on the road, snow is leaving everywhere, also on the fields. I dont expect any snow on stages, but we will see this evening when crews will return from recce.

[bluuford]

Yes, it is leaving from the fields today with the rain (That is why I offered one beer to the one who gets stuck in the snow:-)). But my rough guess is that ice stays on the road. However, rain will become much heavier in next few hours and with intensive recce they might make the conditions little worse. Road surface temperature close to ss1 is currently +0.2 which is not too bad, yet.

[PLuto]

I was talking to the drivers after today recce. They told that snow almost gone on most of stages, only somewhere are frozen parts, but on most of places it is gravel...

[pucky54]

I was talking to the drivers after today recce. They told that snow almost gone on most of stages, only somewhere are frozen parts, but on most of places it is gravel...

Not good!

[ururu]

Who knows why Antonin Tlustak was driving so slowly in Lithuania? rally-live.lt (http://www.rally-live.lt/)

[bluuford]

1. He was using wider WRC tyres
2. He was testing for ERC Latvia
3. He is not as fast as Loeb ;-)

[Mirek]

4. First time ever on long studs.

But anyway the most important point is he really isn't a fast driver. But at least he is usually spectacular in slow places :)

[garais22]

Rally experts: Jari Ketomaa will win rally Liepāja - Ventspils (http://www.go4speed.com/lv/news/rallijs/1813-rallija-eksperti-liepaja-ventspils-rallija-uzvares-ketoma/)

[ururu]

I asked why, Alexey Lukyanuk fast driver, would it not be a hindrance? ss2, ss3 for exemple, befor regrouping.

[Mirek]

Don't worry, there is a qualification like in WRC events. Starting numbers of top drivers are not related to their starting position ;)

[ururu]

tnks ;) ! reassured! Similar thoughts were about 51 from LRC!

[mousti]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/798315_445426128862445_456931891_o.jpg

Pushkar's new livery..

[ururu]

https://twitter.com/SBCRALLYTEAM/status/296879610363265025/photo/1 :confused:

[bluuford]

https://twitter.com/SBCRALLYTEAM/status/296879610363265025/photo/1 :confused:

Looks like this picture is form Ventspils (with worst conditions) and this snow seems to me mostly artificial?

Latest weather:
Currently it is between +1 and +2 degrees and and +1.2 on the road-surface in SS1
Rain-showers continue until the midnight, then the moon should come out and there should be between -1 and -2 degrees tomorrow morning. Day is sunny and on the sun the temperature climbs up to +1 or +2. It fells below zero at around 4 or 5 PM again. My 8PM it will be -5 already.
There might be some light snow-fall very early on Saturday morning (at around 3 or 4 AM) and there should be proper minus degrees until around 1PM on Saturday. The temperature should stay around zero for the reminder of the day.

here is one camera picture close to Liepaja:
http://balticroads.teeinfo.ee/pic/s/130131/LV0053_130131120002.jpg
No snow on the fields like you can see

Another picture close to SS1 (More snow):
http://balticroads.teeinfo.ee/pic/s/130131/LV0036_130131123002.jpg

Close to Ventspils (no snow again):
http://balticroads.teeinfo.ee/pic/s/130131/LV0020_130131123003.jpg

Little bit further inland close to Day 2 stages:
http://balticroads.teeinfo.ee/pic/s/130131/LV0043_130131120002.jpg

You can see that there is nearly no snow on the coast and more snow further inland.

[liposh]

...So we could expect nearly no snow, but really a lot of icy places, black ice etc. on most of the stages. It is quite a luck we have got in ERC calender one more snow-event (rally du Valais) :D :D :D because the first two events are not very good talking about weather.

[Tinke1979]

We have driven through all the stages except Ventspils Super Special.. Wet and soft almost everywhere.. There is not so much of snow. Maybe in sunday stages there still be some snow, but tomorrow stages and saturday stages almost gravel.. Maybe the organisers cancel some part of the stages??? If someone has more info let us know... In Liepaja it is raining now. It rains some wet snow earlier but now just water..

[Tinke1979]

Rally Liep (http://lvrally.com/eng/news/35)

[Kielder]

http://www.liepaja.lv/galleries/gallery_24760363/ap1_8692.jpg
http://www.liepaja.lv/galleries/gallery_24760363/ap1_8694.jpg
http://www.liepaja.lv/galleries/gallery_24760363/ap1_8688.jpg

[Mirek]

A friend drove tomorrow's stages this afternoon. His photos from SS1 are here: www.AutoSport.CZ (http://forum.autosport.cz/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=769&sid=65ba39c56ba5f2176ab2ae8d10723db1&start=70#p66833)

He said 3/4 of tomorrow's stages are covered by ice, the rest is mix of gravel and ice. He said it's impossible to compete there without studs. Looks like Bluuford was right... again :)

[ururu]

Eurosport coverage from Rally Latvia


http://www.ralsys.com/irally_admin/news_images/2013%20New%20Eurosport%20Logo.jpg (http://irallylive.com/ir_news.htm?00002997#)
Rally Latvia - Rally Liepāja-Ventspils - the second round of the 2013 ERC gets under way this Friday, with Qualifying on Friday morning, and the opening stage SS1 Rallyofchampions.com 6.39km set to start at 1710 local time (1610 CET, 1510 UK, Ireland Portugal)

Eurosport is broadcasting the event as follows: all times CET

Saturday 2 Feb Highlights Day One: 2330-0000 (Eurosport)

Sunday 3 Feb Highlights Day One: 0800-0830 (Eurosport2)
Sunday 3 Feb Rally Review: 2330-0000hrs (Eurosport)

Monday 4 Feb Rally Review (replay): 0730-0800 (Eurosport2)
Monday 4 Feb Rally Review (replay): 1430-1500 (Eurosport2)

Tuesday 5 Feb Inside ERC: 2315-2345 (Eurosport)

British Eurosport is broadcasting as follows: all times UK, Ireland

Saturday 2 Feb Highlights Day One: 2345-0015 (British Eurosport)

Sunday 3 Feb Highlights Day One: 0700-0730 (British Eurosport 2)
Sunday 3 Feb Highlights Day One: 1000-1030 (British Eurosport 2)

Monday 4 Feb Rally Review: 0000-0030 (British Eurosport)
Monday 4 Feb Rally Review: 0630-0730 (British Eurosport 2)
Monday 4 Feb Rally Review (replay): 0730-0800 (British Eurosport)

Tuesday 5 Feb Inside ERC: 2330-0000 (Eurosport)

[ururu]

[IMG]http://www.motorsportforums.com/webkit-fake-url://21986D55-4D2E-4274-ADB6-98F9BC27B717/BB893hlCYAAud9U.jpg-large.jpg[img]

[ururu]

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/67462_372256052871602_416489788_n.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BB8y4pYCAAESUiv.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BB893hlCYAAud9U.jpg:large

[Georgi]

Who owns the car (PX60 AVG) of Jari Ketomaa ?

I found this info about it: Owned by M-Sport (2011), used with plate PX60 AVG by M-Sport Stobart Ford WRT. Re-register with plate 1 ES dedicated to Eddie Stobart (2011). Re-registered as PX60 AVG (2012), used by Jari Ketomaa (2012).

[PLuto]

Who owns the car (PX60 AVG) of Jari Ketomaa ?

I found this info about it: Owned by M-Sport (2011), used with plate PX60 AVG by M-Sport Stobart Ford WRT. Re-register with plate 1 ES dedicated to Eddie Stobart (2011). Re-registered as PX60 AVG (2012), used by Jari Ketomaa (2012).

I think that owner is Autotek.

[PLuto]

Stages are very fast. If it will be frozen into ice (as it looks like it will be), everybody here talks that it will be very dangerous.

[Georgi]

I wonder what tire choices there are for such a situation with the surface.

[PLuto]

Studded tyres...

[br21]

I wonder what tire choices there are for such a situation with the surface.

long studs, no other options... and as tires are limited to 15inch by the rules, you've got not many to choose from

[VFTS]

...So we could expect nearly no snow, but really a lot of icy places, black ice etc. on most of the stages. It is quite a luck we have got in ERC calender one more snow-event (rally du Valais) :D :D :D because the first two events are not very good talking about weather.

Its not black ice on gravelstages, only on tarmac.

The snow events should have been in Finland, Sweden, Norway or Russia!! Proper ice and snow events in the winter!

[darkstar]

they should have taken artctic lapland rallye for example, snow guaranteed. it´s not that i dont like liepaja ventspils or so, seems to have nice stages, but no one ever heard of that rallye ever before...

btw. i think ketomaa is going to win this rallye by a big margin. only one who could get close to him is breen.

[pucky54]

...but no one ever heard of that rallye ever before...

its because its the first time this rally is running in that way!

[PLuto]

Dont understimate local drivers with Mitsubishis...

[bluuford]

Well, it is not that easy. You can see that ideal winter conditions are almost 100% guaranteed in Alūksne region or South-Estonian winterrallies (Only a few hudred km to the NE). In ideal world I would combine stages in South Estonia and in Alūksne surroundings for ERC winterraly (There is currently around 40 cm of snow). But these stages are too far away from the main sponsors of the rally who are related to big harbours in Ventspils and Liepaja. Also the infrastructure is not so good there.

[darkstar]

its because its the first time this rally is running in that way!

yes and why not, always nice to have something new. however, i only ask myself how that rallye made it to the erc calendar. well, i of course dont know, but it´s probably about the money. to me it looks a bit like latvian government is involved or so. like it was at that ukrainian rallye, that noone ever took notice of before...or romania.

locals with mitsu´s: yes, shure, crazy guy! but i dont think he can beat drivers like ketomaa and breen in s2000´s. but it would be a nice surprise, would love to see that! ;)

[bluuford]

i only ask myself how that rallye made it to the erc calendar. well, i of course dont know, but it´s probably about the money.
locals with mitsu´s: yes, shure, crazy guy! but i dont think he can beat drivers like ketomaa and breen in s2000´s. but it would be a nice surprise, would love to see that! ;)
Main sponsors are operating in the big harbours.This rally was known when it was held in summer:-)

And Mitsu guys. Do not underestimate them. I am not sure if Breen can make it even on the podium. Fast stages (Suitable for Mitsus), local knowledge and conditions. Fastest times might come from Latvian Championship drivers who are running on the parallel rally..with different tyres ;-)

[Mirek]

they should have taken artctic lapland rallye for example, snow guaranteed. it´s not that i dont like liepaja ventspils or so, seems to have nice stages, but no one ever heard of that rallye ever before...

If I recall there was no interest from Finnish organizers to join IRC so I guess it hasn't changed.


Its not black ice on gravelstages, only on tarmac.

The snow events should have been in Finland, Sweden, Norway or Russia!! Proper ice and snow events in the winter!

Just until sudden change of weather in this weak the conditions were perfect. That strange warm weather came even here in Prague. After almost a month of constant minus degrees we had -10 on Sunday but +12 on Tuesday. Of course it's not Latvia but the weather went same strange way.

[darkstar]

yes ok, but not internationally known ;) at least i never have heard something from it. but in the end, who cares! :D i´m looking forward to that one. i only remeber breen being quite fast in sweden, with almost no snow experience. but as i said before, it would be nice to have some surprises on the podium at this rallye!

[Mirek]

Start list to the QS: http://www.lvrally.com/upload/files/5.1.start-at-tc-sp.pdf

Two free runs from 8 a.m. and than one qualifying run.

[Georgi]

I would not be surprised when Lukyanuk is going to beat all the others. Its going to be a very tight fight i think between him and the S2000 boys

With the "new" surface conditions...who could be the biggest contender for the win?
I have a doubt in the quality of DMACK and their performance in ice and hard gravel.
Will be very hard rally for the tires!
I bet on the local and the Baltic drivers mainly because the roads are very fast and their knowledge of the stages will be vital.

[Jeppe]

I wonder what tire choices there are for such a situation with the surface.

I would take black and round ;) ;) But to be honest there is only one choice - Michelin. It´s still ahead of Dmack big time...

[Georgi]

I would take black and round ;) ;) But to be honest there is only one choice - Michelin. It´s still ahead of Dmack big time...

What are the dimensions of the 15' tire?
Is somewhere a photo for better impression?
I'm confused and uneducated :)

[bluuford]

Everything goes according to the forecast. Road temperature just dropped below zero. Road will be -3..-5 by Qualifying and air around -1..-2.

[OldF]

If I recall there was no interest from Finnish organizers to join IRC so I guess it hasn't changed.

And it's also logistically expensive for teams and drivers from central Europe. We have still NORF and that's imo enough. Give ERC rallies to countries that don't have a WRC event.



Just until sudden change of weather in this weak the conditions were perfect. That strange warm weather came even here in Prague. After almost a month of constant minus degrees we had -10 on Sunday but +12 on Tuesday. Of course it's not Latvia but the weather went same strange way.

It has also been between 0 - 2 degrees plus here in south of Finland couple last days. The snow is melting.

[Mirek]

I would take black and round ;) ;) But to be honest there is only one choice - Michelin. It´s still ahead of Dmack big time...

Many crews using Pirelli too. They do provide 15" tyres too.

[Coach 2]

I think you only get Michelin GA (snow) in 15" and 16" but only GE (ice) in 16".
You get Pirelli to both ice and snow in 15 ".

[Kielder]

The stop of SS1 last morning:

http://www.ralsys.com/irally_admin/news_images/2013LatviaSS1StageStop.jpg

[WUff1]

Well, there won´t be an ERC round in countries which already got a WRC round. So no ERC round in Sweden and Finland.

And because of the weather: already Jänner Rallye was crazy from this point of view. But Winter in whole middle/western/eastern Europe seems to be crazy this year.


And yes, don´t forget the locals in their Group N-Mitsubishis or even S2000-cars. Just look at Baumschlager, Harrach or Orsak (who is, although a Czech driver, a regular participant there) at Jänner Rallye.

[bluuford]

Update (5 min ago). Road between -3.8 and -4.6, air -0.4..-1.2, some fresh snow near Kuldiga overnight, but not everywhere. Low sun and some clouds.

[Jeppe]

What are the dimensions of the 15' tire?
Is somewhere a photo for better impression?
I'm confused and uneducated :)

Here you are New studding for the Michelin X-Ice North winter tyre (http://en.best-of-rallylive.com/layout/set/print/News/New-studding-for-the-Michelin-X-Ice-North-winter-tyre/(tag)/MICHELIN%20X-Ice%20North) Some very accurate information also..

[sindroms]

Qualification round results online - LR? (http://lrc.lv/?m=41&l=2&r=107)

[sindroms]

SS1 all road on ice and with thin layer of snow
Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter (http://twitpic.com/bzy2nl)

[liposh]

Well, there won´t be an ERC round in countries which already got a WRC round. So no ERC round in Sweden and Finland.

And because of the weather: already Jänner Rallye was crazy from this point of view. But Winter in whole middle/western/eastern Europe seems to be crazy this year.
.


That was why I suggested to ask organizers of former "Rally Norway WRC" to participate in ERC...or something in Russia (sorry baltic boys) In my opinion there is not enough space for such risks as winter rally nearby the seashore. This year the weather isn´t total disaster but it could be for next year. I would be fan of this Latvian rally if it would take place during summer.

[Mirek]

Here you are New studding for the Michelin X-Ice North winter tyre (http://en.best-of-rallylive.com/layout/set/print/News/New-studding-for-the-Michelin-X-Ice-North-winter-tyre/(tag)/MICHELIN%20X-Ice%20North) Some very accurate information also..

Photo of Pirelli: http://www.ewrc.cz/images/2013/photos/test_jan_cerny_pred_rally_liepaja_ventspils_2013/vbe_test01.jpg

[Adler]

130 km/h average speed on QS....pretty fast one, are the stages also like that?

[sindroms]

130 km/h average speed on QS....pretty fast one, are the stages also like that?

I would say - close to it if grip will be ok. Here is average speeds in "Rally Kurzeme 2012" on gravel - LR? (http://autorally.lv/?m=41&r=104&l=2&ft=4) Stages from 2 to 5 in 2012 was on same roads as stages from 2 to 5 in "Liepāja-Ventspils".

[sindroms]

Shakedown results online (for non-prority drivers) - LR? (http://autorally.lv/?r=107&m=42&l=2)

[PLuto]

130 km/h average speed on QS....pretty fast one, are the stages also like that?

Stages are very fast, like in Finland.

[sindroms]

Pictures from qualification round - Rallija Liep?ja-Ventspils kvalifik?cija - Go4speed (http://www.go4speed.lv/lv/photo/rallijs/529-rallija-liepaja-ventspils-kvalifikacija/)

[sindroms]

So now I am leaving for day 1 :) Follow @LVRally (https://twitter.com/LVRally) on twitter to get latest news.

[garais22]

Here is a photo gallery from Rally Liepāja-VentspilsQualifying Stage from this morning Rallija Liep?ja-Ventspils kvalifik?cija - Go4speed (http://www.go4speed.lv/lv/photo/rallijs/529-rallija-liepaja-ventspils-kvalifikacija/)

[Kielder]

Start Order:

1. Ketomaa
2. Plangi
3. Švedas
4. Breen
5. Gryazin
6. Lukyanuk
7. Kisiels
8. Delecour
9. Černý
10. Orsák
11. Tlusťák
12. Puskádi

[Georgi]

Here you are New studding for the Michelin X-Ice North winter tyre (http://en.best-of-rallylive.com/layout/set/print/News/New-studding-for-the-Michelin-X-Ice-North-winter-tyre/(tag)/MICHELIN%20X-Ice%20North) Some very accurate information also..

Thanks very much Jeppe!

[Kielder]

Adopted Latvians ahead...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCA8PGuCMAEndal.jpg:large

[RS]

When does the rally actually start? I can't seem to find the results page...

[Kielder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCixkPsjs1Q&list=UUh_u5OwgQoi_3kz_GcHUclA& index=1

[Kielder]

When does the rally actually start? I can't seem to find the results page...

Today's times UTC+1:

16:10 SS1 Podnieki 6.16km
16:45 SS2 Tebra 16.88km
17:45 SS3 Vecpils

[Hartusvuori]

Adopted Latvians ahead...

It's apt how the board on the background says: "Serious competition ahead" :-)

[Kielder]

To ilustrate a little more about the tyres (today's pics):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCAtegvCYAASFiD.jpg:large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCAvY8cCAAAqReM.jpg:large

[garais22]

Some photos from Press conference in Liepaja Rallija Liep?ja-Ventspils atkl??anas preses konference - Go4speed (http://www.go4speed.lv/lv/photo/rallijs/530-rallija-liepaja-ventspils-atklasanas-preses-konference/)

[Kielder]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YjnJIruPQss

[Kielder]

Photo of SS1. Frozen surface:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCBHoucCEAAvRfc.jpg:large