August 3rd to 4th in Rokiskis grounds for the second time starting “Samsonas Rally Rokiskis” the race this year will provide more surprices for the viewers then ever. Organizators haven’t opened all of their cards about the race yet, but they have opened one surprice card – in Lithuania there will be appearing legend Worlds rally champion racer, Finnish Toni Gardemeister.
One of the famous finn have started his carrier in 1996. Gaining all the of victories in Finland, he has been noticed by the Worlds rally champion team “SEAT Sport”. Then Toni Gardemeister sat under “Cardoba” model wheel and he started racing in WRC race.
In Worlds rally championship he was participating until 2008. During that time he wasn’t only driving “SEAT” but as well „Mitsubishi“, „Skoda“, „Ford“, „Citroen“, „Peugeot“, „Suzuki“ cars. Withdrawing from the worlds rally championship racer didn’t stop but time to time he raced until 2011. After seven years taking a break Toni Gardemeister will be behind the wheel again in Lithuania.
“We are proud, that such a famous racer Toni Gardemeister have accepted our invitation to participate in “Samsonas Rally Rokiskis” race. He is extraordinary person in motor sport world. Not many rally fans have seen him racing in real life, so they have a perfect opportunity of seeing him. Last year we also had many guests from other countries. This year there will be more of them and we are happy – that one of them will be Toni Gardemeister”, – commented “Samsonas Rally Rokiskis”organizator Audrius Gimzauskas.
Toni Gardemeisteris said, he was nicely surprised received invitation to the “Samsonas Rally Rokiskis” race. Rally’s legend confessed that he has never raced in our country before, but he has been here with his team to one of the rally’s before, when in Lithuania raced swedish Pontusas Tidemandsas and finn Kalle Rovanpera. Back then the racers raced in Toni Gardemeister renting cars.
“I was happy to receive this invitation. You know, I haven’t raced for a long time, so I thought, this could be fun to remember old times and to try Lithuanian racing roads. Even though I am finishing my carrier in rally, I am still very busy- taking care my “Toyota” rally teams business, I have a rally school, also import rally equipment to Finland, but I couldn’t resist this this offer. I have been in Lithuania couple years ago. I was there with my team, but I didn’t race myself. Lithuanian race road, the surface of it will be new to me. Ofcourse I have raced many places and seen different race roads. I think Lithuanian racing roads are a bit softer, maybe more like polish roads in Mikolaiku region. So this will be something new for me, I am more used to race on a harder surface.” Said Toni Gardemeister.
Racer admitted, that he only knows few of the rally racers from Lithuania. He does have some connections with Martynas Samsonas, as they have business connections. He also said knows Dakar race participant classic rally racer Benediktas Vanagas.
What car in “Samsonas Rally Rokiskis” racer Worlds rally champion legend Toni Gardemeister will be racing – not sure yet. According to the racer, now he is making and renting cars for the rally, and in his garage there is one “Opel Adam R2” and three of “Skoda Fabia R5” models, but what he will be starting in Lithuania, will be revealed later.
“I still hope, that I am still a competitive pilot. I haven’t raced in a long time. Last year I started in Estonia, but car fuel pump broke down, so the rally was cut short. Of course, I do drive trying out my own cars, improving them, but rally and testing is two different things. It will be nice to put on the overalls, get all the helpers and come back to the race. I don’t have my chart high, but I would want a victory in my class. And also I have to try for my viewers.” Sharing his thoughts said rally’s legend.