[ERC] Tet Rally Liepāja 2023

**Jarek Z** · 17th June 2023, 16:02

Originally Posted by RS

https://www.fiaerc.com/erc/news/erc/...rc-car-switch/

Personally i'm convinced the peak performance of the new car is higher, but it does seem harder for even some quite experienced drivers to access it. On the other hand others adapted very quickly (Solberg, Sesks)

So far Llarena isn't much faster than in Poland. Only 9th overall after 5 stages...

RS · 17th June 2023, 16:54

Originally Posted by Jarek Z

So far Llarena isn't much faster than in Poland. Only 9th overall after 5 stages...

He's had some better stages too but maybe his problem is tougher competition this year rather than the car.

RS · 17th June 2023, 18:41

And for the first time Sesks doesn't win a stage, SS6 not a proper stage tho.

**EstWRC** · 17th June 2023, 19:31

Jasper Vaher excluded for car weight. Wtf

RS · 17th June 2023, 20:23

Originally Posted by EstWRC

Jasper Vaher excluded for car weight. Wtf

31kg!

**Negaiss** · 17th June 2023, 20:43

Originally Posted by Jarek Z

Couldn't they predict the dust problem before the rally?

No. I was at the SS1. Everyone knew about dry weather at least week ahead, but that was not the problem. Problem was zero wind and heavy humid air - dust just was not moving at all. On fields it was kind of OK and dust still moved a bit in 2 minutes but in forest, which was most of the stage, dust just did not move - not sideways and not upwards. 3 or ever 4 minute gaps would have not solved the problem. I was sad too, but cancelation was good call, otherwise someone who had spun on the stage even could have been killed. There was parts in forest, where you could not see more than 5 meters in front of you. Zero wind was not predicted on weather forecasts.

**Negaiss** · 17th June 2023, 20:47

Originally Posted by Lead

Thats a real shame. They could increase the starting gaps, if the dust is the main issue?

No. 3, 4 or maybe even 5 minutes would not have saved the stage - dust just did not move at all in forest parts.

**Steve Boyd** · 18th June 2023, 00:36

I don't know about Latvia, but in the UK event routes and schedules have to be fixed months in advance on public roads. Even on private roads you can't make changes after the recce period and some events here have the recce the weekend before the event for local drivers as well as a day or two before for the visiting drivers.

**Mise** · 18th June 2023, 08:44

These two stages of today are just spectacular.

**EstWRC** · 18th June 2023, 09:19

Really? Watched 3 stages yesterday and SS7 today which was utterly boring which just straights basically

I hope they will find more spectacular stages for WRC round next year