Next week Rokiškis will become the capital of the Lithuanian car – the anniversary tenth “Rokiškio Grand Rally” taking place here will be the fourth event of the Lithuanian automobile rally championship. After it, the crews will have two more events that will crown the end of the season – in Elektrėnai and Mažeikiai, but it is in Rokiškis that the fight for the titles may turn in one direction or another. Although in some classes the leaders have already built up a tangible lead, in others the intrigue remains – here the championship leaders are separated by only a few points.
Justas Tamašauskas is currently dominating the LARC1 class, having won both events which he finished. Although the start of the season was unsuccessful for him, after victories in Žemaitija and Ukmergė he has collected 70 points and is already eight points ahead of Eugenijus Sladkevičius. Egidijus Valeiša, who is in third place, has 29 points, so at least for now, the most obvious intrigue is here in the fight for the championship title.
Vaidotas Žala and Ugnius Vainevičius are confidently leading in LARC2. After three events they have collected 103 points and are 17 points ahead of Deividas Gezevičius and Evaldas Kvederis, who have 86 points on their account. Rokas Steponavičius and Dovydas Ketvirtis are in third place, with 68 points. The only foreign crew to break into the top five is just four points behind them – Aron Domżała and Michałas Kuśnierzas (64 points) from Poland. This means that the fight for a place in the top three in Rokiškis may heat up even more.
In the LARC3 class, Artur Długosz from Poland feels more confident. He has 87 points and is 17 points ahead of Petras Šiaučiūnas, whose chances of fighting for the title were hampered by the unfinished event in Ukmergė. Karolis Kairys is in third place with 56 points.
Irmantas Buivydas is still unbeatable in the LARC4 standings. Having won three out of three races, the athlete has collected 104 points and has a solid 24-point lead over Bruno Urmo Gryc. Erikas Valkeris is in third place with 69 points. However, there are still two championship events to go after Rokiškis, so the fight for titles and prize places is definitely not over yet.
One of the biggest intrigues of the season is in the LARC5 class. Here, Marius Vėgėlė and Linas Vaškys are separated by only four points after three events – 94 and 90, respectively. Both athletes have demonstrated excellent stability this season, so Rokiškis event may become a turning point in their fight for the championship title. Paulius Beniušis is currently in third place, having collected 77 points.
Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis has a clear advantage in the LARC6 class. He won all three first events of the season and has the maximum – 105 points – dowry. Mindaugas Grikienis, who is in second place, is 51 points behind the leader, but maintains a four-point lead over Guntis Lielkājis.
Andrejus Apočkinas is leading in the rear-wheel drive class (LARC7), with 96 points. The fight for the remaining places is extremely fierce here – Giedrius Notkus and Darius Sukackas are separated by only one point. They have collected 54 and 53 points, respectively. In Rokiškis, both athletes will seek not only to get closer to the leader, but also to clarify their mutual relations in the fight for the vice-champion position.
Only a few participants have started in the LARC8 class so far. Reinis Trūps is firmly in the lead, having collected 70 points after two victories. Marius Dainys is in second place with 28 points.
In the BMW Cup standings (LARC9), Ovidijus Vaštakas is the most stable. After three stages, he has 103 points and is 19 points ahead of Andrius Grigaitis. Mantas Garbuzas, who has established himself in third place, has collected 49 points, but the athletes lined up behind him have not yet lost their chances of fighting for a place in the top three.
In the historic car class Dovilas Čiutelė is currently dominating, having collected 70 points. Saulius Zurlys has 28 points, and Alfonsas Žiukas has not yet scored any points.
In the junior standings, the situation practically repeats the LARC4 class. Irmantas Buivydas is confidently leading with 105 points, ahead of Bruno Urmo Grycs (84 points) and Erikas Valkeris (72 points).
Eugenijus Sladkevičius leads the Masters standings with 68 points. Guntis Lielkājis is in second place (60 points), and Dovilas Čiutelė is in third (46 points).
Although the leaders in some classes have already built up solid leads, the situation in a significant part of the standings remains open. Rokiškis event may not only bring some athletes even closer to the championship titles, but also completely change the balance of power in classes where competitors are separated by only a few points. After the “Rokiškio Grand Rally”, the championship will move to Elektrėnai, and the season will be crowned by the final stage in Mažeikiai, so after the competition in Rokiškis, the fight for the Lithuanian automobile rally championship titles will enter the decisive phase of the season.