[ERC] Tet Rally Liepāja 2022

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/championship/calendar/erc/erc-rally-liepaja/overview/

[Jarek Z]

Provisional entry list already contains some interesting names like Paddon, Solans, Bonato...
https://2022.lvrally.com/eng/rally-liepaja/competitors/ec

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Provisional entry list already contains some interesting names like Paddon, Solans, Bonato...
https://2022.lvrally.com/eng/rally-liepaja/competitors/ec

Thanks, I was looking for that !

Paddon will be a great benchmark to see how fast the ERC regulars really are.

[PLuto]

Thanks, I was looking for that !

Paddon will be a great benchmark to see how fast the ERC regulars really are.

And also how Paddon can be fast...

[Mk2 RS2000]

And also how Paddon can be fast... bearing in mind that he hasn't done a tarmac rally nor driven one of these cars since he was last in Europe

[WRC1]

bearing in mind that he hasn't done a tarmac rally nor driven one of these cars since he was last in Europe

Liepaja is Tarmac?? since when?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2022/wrc-rally-winner-features-in-liepaja-entry/

[Andre Oliveira]

50 entries

https://www.ewrc-results.com/entries/74890-tet-rally-liepaja-2022/

[Jarek Z]

No Herczig and Campedelli.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Liepaja is Tarmac?? since when?

He must've been talking about Rally di Alba in the TER Series.


Hayden Paddon @HaydenPaddon

P4 and 1st in TER European Championship - been a really enjoyable day at Rally Di Alba. To be honest, our speed has been much better than expected after such a long absence from tarmac and how foreign it all felt at the start. Big thanks to John and the whole HMI team ! @TerSeries

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWHw1F6WYAAJVSP?format=jpg&name=900x900

[PLuto]

He must've been talking about Rally di Alba in the TER Series.


Hayden Paddon @HaydenPaddon

P4 and 1st in TER European Championship - been a really enjoyable day at Rally Di Alba. To be honest, our speed has been much better than expected after such a long absence from tarmac and how foreign it all felt at the start. Big thanks to John and the whole HMI team ! @TerSeries

Winning TER is nothing. But 4th overall on CIR round is not bad. But it was tarmac.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Winning TER is nothing. But 4th overall on CIR round is not bad. But it was tarmac.

And I see Llarena was only 10th.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It's crunch time for Solans in Latvia...

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2022/preview-crunch-time-for-title-hopeful-solans-in-latvia/

[Fast Eddie WRC]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWVI0p1XkAEF0z9?format=jpg&name=small

[KKSF]

Video from pre-event official tests with some close calls and mistakes: https://youtu.be/nZR5VOktrNA

[Fast Eddie WRC]

PET's including Solans small off...

https://youtu.be/4hdY-KaPB8M

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Paddon''s Hyundai NZ i20 Rally2...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWg-87MXEAAtvc7?format=jpg&name=medium

[Fast Eddie WRC]

QS is make or break here...but still no live coverage. :(

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2022/why-liepajas-qualifying-stage-is-make-or-break/

[Eli]

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2022/battistolli-edges-zala-in-liepaja-qualifier/?fbclid=IwAR1dT4-qDVxTTjXnIR9bzLa_tJRTzwU2p_vu2b8_BktWbWsUFeERNcTjv 2E

With Paddon coming in third for the QS. Can't believe the ERC has that so many years after the WRC got rid of it.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The QS had very close times so it was good to see none of the top guys made even a small mistake which could've ruined their whole rally (gravel sweeping).

Good job by Paddon.
https://www.fiaerc.com/images/redaktion/ERC/2022-news/July/010722_Paddon_QS_9055a_frz_1400x788.jpg

[Danny0405]

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2022/battistolli-edges-zala-in-liepaja-qualifier/?fbclid=IwAR1dT4-qDVxTTjXnIR9bzLa_tJRTzwU2p_vu2b8_BktWbWsUFeERNcTjv 2E

With Paddon coming in third for the QS. Can't believe the ERC has that so many years after the WRC got rid of it.

Well, personnally, his Alba performance is extremely surprising for me (in a positive way because I thought it would finish as Atkinson’s comeback).
He was never a tarmac driver and hasn’t driven on it since 2017 if I’m right. And Italian Championship level is quite high (probably 3rd National championship about tarmac and in top5 globally). And all with an old Hyundai R5.
Really interested to see what he can do on a full rally in Liepaja and then Estonia.

[Grutz]

Well I think if Paddon stays on the road he will actually win this rally comfortably.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Official QS Video https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/video/player/?videoId=1395963

[RS]

Signal keeps breaking on All-Live :(

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Signal keeps breaking on All-Live :(

Storms in the area.

[Jarek Z]

Local driver Martins Sesks feels very well in his new car and wins first 2 stages. Well done!

[bwallace]

On fire that man :D

[dimviii]

Paddon lost 38 sec at ss 3
Batistolli had 2 overshoots.


edit
Hayden lost the rear end of his Hyundai on a fast-left hander and slid off the road. Luckily there is minimal damage to the car and he is back underway, albeit after dropping over 30sec.

[Jarek Z]

Well I think if Paddon stays on the road he will actually win this rally comfortably.

It will be difficult. After the mistake on SS3 he dropped down to the 13th position.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Shame for Paddon as his mistake was compounded by a struggle to re-start the car.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Great speed by Sesks, hope he can keep it up and stay on the road.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWpn8KdXEAYJRjo?format=jpg&name=large

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Disastrous puncture for Solans losing time and getting a worse road position for tomorrow. :(

[RS]

Quite impressive pace by Llarena too considering he is not so experienced on fast gravel. And currently 1-2 for MRF.

[Danny0405]

Are there some news about the 8th round?
Was supposed to be close to a deal around Canarias and still nothing 1 month and half later.
Finish in Monza? :D

[PLuto]

Are there some news about the 8th round?
Was supposed to be close to a deal around Canarias and still nothing 1 month and half later.
Finish in Monza? :D

Last round of the championship should be announced next week.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Good fan video showing how loose the gravel is..
https://youtu.be/BtlkVQBj-mI

[RS]

Dissapointed to not see much/any heli footage yesterday. Onboards are good but the stages in Latvia are really good for filming the cars from a heli as they are so fast and open.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

SS9 Kristensson puncture... bad luck for the Kowax Team again.

[RS]

Solans surprisingly off the pace this weekend, not good for his championship chances with Llarena on the podium.

[Lead]

Solans surprisingly off the pace this weekend, not good for his championship chances with Llarena on the podium.

Not off the pace. He was only 2sec behind Llarena after yesterday ss5 (3rd overall) and got puncture on last stage of the day. So it throwed him at the start of the grid today (cleaning the road). Just unfortunate circumstances.

[Jarek Z]

Not off the pace. He was only 2sec behind Llarena after yesterday ss5 (3rd overall) and got puncture on last stage of the day. So it throwed him at the start of the grid today (cleaning the road). Just unfortunate circumstances.

He didn't even win 1 single stage in this rally, so I think it's a little disappointing.
But Bonato, Tempestini and Wagner are even more disappointing!

[wyler]

He didn't even win 1 single stage in this rally, so I think it's a little disappointing.
But Bonato, Tempestini and Wagner are even more disappointing!

on the other side, surprised by Battistolli

[Jarek Z]

on the other side, surprised by Battistolli

He had some good stage times indeed, but he is not consistent at all, sometimes he is 4th and sometimes 14th :)

https://rally-base.com/crew-profile/crew-detail/?competitionId=658&crewId=61072&ssGroupId=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjQwDMwnz2A

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Llarena's pace was more surprising, being able to match Solans yesterday when he said he doesnt like these fast gravel rallies.

[Danny0405]

Yeah, positively surprised by Battistolli speed also for a fast gravel event.
Without his 2x spin, it could have played podium position. Still a young driver with not that much real Rally2 experience experience (I mean except Rally shows and Historic).
For Paddon, it’s a comeback event so difficult to assess; may have hoped a bit better but it’s interesting mileage to prepare Estonia and Finland.

For Solans, he was not bad yesterday before the puncture (fighting with Llarena) but sounds a bit lost now with his bad road position. Maybe he lost the spirit as championship will be really difficult; not sure we will see him again this season now.

On Spanish side, impressed by the young Palomo in Rally4 for a fast gravel event so far. He could take confortable lead in ERC4 if no issue in the last 2 (at least 20-25 points on Mabellini and Fotia and 40 on Pellier).
Pellier’s mistake yesterday is not a big surprise: he was taking too much unnecessary risks since the beginning of the season; it’s not lost for ERC-4 Junior (should be around 5-7 points behind Palomo after this one) but he has no more right to mistake. Interesting fight to see with Palomo (is the Spaniard able to convert his gravel speed on tarmac?). Herranen not bad for first international outings but if he doesn’t win on fast gravel, sounds unlikely for me that he can target the championship.

[Jarek Z]

For Solans, he was not bad yesterday before the puncture (fighting with Llarena) but sounds a bit lost now with his bad road position. Maybe he lost the spirit as championship will be really difficult;

Solans says he drives "slowly" on purpose?

Solans Nil after SS10: I am going really slowly to try and keep the tyres for the second pass. We are checking the pace notes and everything to have a push. I am not so confident but we will try it.

[Danny0405]

Solans says he drives "slowly" on purpose?

Solans Nil after SS10: I am going really slowly to try and keep the tyres for the second pass. We are checking the pace notes and everything to have a push. I am not so confident but we will try it.

Well, if true, not convinced at all by the Power Stage strategy. He lost at least 3 positions with his strategy so far (could have been 9th instead of 12th without big effort) which represents ... 5 points, the best of PS points (and still not sure he can do better than Sesks there). Sounds clearly strange for me.
Budget issue again?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Heikkilä has impressed me, improving his pace gradually and moving up the leaderboard to lie 2nd o/a. This is what the ERC should be, local specialists taking on the top Championship contenders

[wyler]

He had some good stage times indeed, but he is not consistent at all, sometimes he is 4th and sometimes 14th :)

https://rally-base.com/crew-profile/crew-detail/?competitionId=658&crewId=61072&ssGroupId=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjQwDMwnz2A

true, but compared to his little experience, he's on a good learning curve...

[wyler]

Yeah, positively surprised by Battistolli speed also for a fast gravel event.
Without his 2x spin, it could have played podium position. Still a young driver with not that much real Rally2 experience experience (I mean except Rally shows and Historic).
For Paddon, it’s a comeback event so difficult to assess; may have hoped a bit better but it’s interesting mileage to prepare Estonia and Finland.

For Solans, he was not bad yesterday before the puncture (fighting with Llarena) but sounds a bit lost now with his bad road position. Maybe he lost the spirit as championship will be really difficult; not sure we will see him again this season now.

On Spanish side, impressed by the young Palomo in Rally4 for a fast gravel event so far. He could take confortable lead in ERC4 if no issue in the last 2 (at least 20-25 points on Mabellini and Fotia and 40 on Pellier).
Pellier’s mistake yesterday is not a big surprise: he was taking too much unnecessary risks since the beginning of the season; it’s not lost for ERC-4 Junior (should be around 5-7 points behind Palomo after this one) but he has no more right to mistake. Interesting fight to see with Palomo (is the Spaniard able to convert his gravel speed on tarmac?). Herranen not bad for first international outings but if he doesn’t win on fast gravel, sounds unlikely for me that he can target the championship.

on youngsters and ERC4: Mabellini is a profile to watch...very young and very little experience, good results and a developing trail toward international events that's not common from italians

[RS]

The new promoter are getting better at uploading clips to their Youtube channel.. here full stage 4 onboard with Sesks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weMJiUO9pqE

I think Sesks is running the long gearbox, not quite hitting the limiter despite super fast stages. You’d think everybody would be, but I’m sure I heard some properly on the limiter during this rally.

[Augury]

What a performance by Sesks. Total domination.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Pretty incredible to win every stage, chapeau Martin Sesks.

[RS]

Entertaining power stage, great job by Llarena to overhaul Heikkila but what a drive by Sesks for the whole rally! Hope to see more of him in the future.

Also a fantastic 1-2 for MRF which clearly work very well on fast, dry gravel roads.

[dimviii]

https://twitter.com/MSesks/status/1543620043510013953

[Lead]

He didn't even win 1 single stage in this rally, so I think it's a little disappointing.
But Bonato, Tempestini and Wagner are even more disappointing!

No one did besides Sesks.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Also a fantastic 1-2 for MRF which clearly work very well on fast, dry gravel roads.

Yes, well done to the Madras Rubber Factory !

[RS]

Yes, well done to the Madras Rubber Factory !

Ahhh, that’s what it stands for!

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Ahhh, that’s what it stands for!
I looked it up when I saw MRF Genius on an Indian cricketer's bat. Apparently they have a cricket academy and make bats too !

[dimviii]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FWzz9ijWYAAVjTk?format=jpg&name=small
But what is next? Will he be back in Team MRF Tyres’ top-flight squad for Rally di Roma Capitale later this month? We’ll have to wait and see.

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/2022/sesks-i-want-to-enjoy-this-moment/

[Jarek Z]

But what is next? Will he be back in Team MRF Tyres’ top-flight squad for Rally di Roma Capitale later this month? We’ll have to wait and see.

MRF would have never achieved such result with Herczig and Campedelli, but... who knows? Campedelli may show something in Rome?

[Jarek Z]

Kotarba's high speed crash and rolling:
https://rallyandrace.pl/mega-dzwon-kotarby-na-rajdzie-lipawy/?fbclid=IwAR2YxkYhf2zuGVZyNTLDfDq91Y5dfq-6htjRgDCqhZLTROTqRQNRuzYwhqo

[faateris]

TET Rally Liepāja photos - http://janisasaris.com/jaunumi

JA

[Danny0405]

on youngsters and ERC4: Mabellini is a profile to watch...very young and very little experience, good results and a developing trail toward international events that's not common from italians

Interesting profile and consistent (I evoked his consistency at the beginning of the season) but I would be surprised he could be in the game for ERC4 Junior title this season even with 2 tarmac events coming because of his mechanical issues in Poland + problem in Liepaja. The gap is already big, it’s why I think it’s a Pellier-Palomo battle in ERC4 Junior (the main title as it gives a 4-round JWRC program for next year); doubtful on Herranen considering his lack of tarmac experience but cannot be discard for now.

If Palomo hits trouble somewhere, why not for Mabellini in ERC4 but the issue is that they are taking points to each other with Fotia so far in Renault/Toksport team.

[wyler]

Interesting profile and consistent (I evoked his consistency at the beginning of the season) but I would be surprised he could be in the game for ERC4 Junior title this season even with 2 tarmac events coming because of his mechanical issues in Poland + problem in Liepaja. The gap is already big, it’s why I think it’s a Pellier-Palomo battle in ERC4 Junior (the main title as it gives a 4-round JWRC program for next year); doubtful on Herranen considering his lack of tarmac experience but cannot be discard for now.

If Palomo hits trouble somewhere, why not for Mabellini in ERC4 but the issue is that they are taking points to each other with Fotia so far in Renault/Toksport team.

yes, i was speaking more mid/long term.