The tenth aniversary “Rokiškio Grand Rally” event, which will take place on August 13-15, is approaching. Starting numbers have already been assigned to the participants of the competition and the first ten positions reveal what kind of competitors are expected in Rokiškis. It is true that starting numbers should not be confused with starting positions – the official starting order will be published in a separate document before the competition and the highest classified crews still have to participate in a Qualifying Stage.
The first starting number is assigned to the current leaders of the Lithuanian Automobile Rally Championship Vaidotas Žala and Ugnius Vainevičius. The “NØRDIS Team” crew with Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 has won all three events of the LARC2 classification held so far this season and comes to Rokiškis as one of the main contenders for victory.
Another NØRDIS Team crew received the second starting number – Deividas Gezevičius and Evaldas Kvederis with Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. After the first three events of the Lithuanian championship, they are positioned the second in the LARC2 standings and remain the closest pursuers of V. Žala and U. Vainevičius.
The third starting number is assigned to Rokas Steponavičius and Dovydus Ketvirtis. The “Jusema by GSR Motorsport” crew with the Škoda Fabia Evo is also among the leaders of this season’s Lithuanian championship and before the Rokiškis event are positioned in the third place in the LARC2 standings.
One of the most capable foreign crews coming to Rokiškis is marked with the fourth number – crew of Aron Domżała and Michał Kuśnierz with Škoda Fabia R5 Evo from Poland. A. Domżała is already well known to Lithuanian rally fans this season – after three events he is fourth in the LARC2 standings.
The fifth starting number went to Giedrius Firantas and Matas Valiulis with Škoda Fabia R5. This crew is also constantly rotating among the leaders of LARC2 and before the fourth event of the season is positioned the fifth in its class.
There is even more international intrigue in the top ten starting numbers. Paweł Ważny and Łukasz Jastrzębski in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 from Poland got the sixth number, while the seventh number was assigned to Aras Kvedaras and Karolis Gedgaudas, who will drive the Škoda Fabia Evo.
Another Polish crew – Piotr Krotoszyński and Marcin Szeja with Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 – is number eight.
The first ten are completed by two crews which further diversify of the most capable participants. The ninth number assigned to Petras Šiaučiūnas and Žilvinas Juršys who will start in the LARC3 class with Škoda Fabia R4 and the tenth number was assigned to guests from the Czech Republic David Tomek and Roman Svec driving Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo.
Thus, the first ten starting numbers went to seven Lithuanian two Polish and one Czech crews. Among them Škoda brand equipment dominates, but the starting numbers alone do not determine the order in which the most capable athletes will appear in the first Special Stage.
Before the start of the main rally battle, the highest classified participants will have to complete a qualifying sprint. Its results will be important in deciding on the starting positions – most likely, the crews that appeared in the qualification will get the right of priority to choose the most favorable position for them. Therefore, only after the qualification will it finally become clear from which positions the main favorites will start the battle on the Special Stages of Rokiškis. The official starting order of all participants will be published in a separate document before the competition.
Choosing a starting position in a gravel rally can become an important tactical part of the competition. Crews have to assess the condition of the road surface, weather conditions and the so-called road cleaning effect, so the opportunity won in Qualifying Stage to choose their starting place earlier can provide an important advantage.
This year list of participants of “Rokiškio Grand Rally” includes not only the strongest Lithuanian competitors. Crews from Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Italy, Ukraine, USA and Monaco come to Rokiškis. The international lineup once again confirms the high level of the anniversary competition.
Great intrigue awaits in other classes as well. Andrejus Apočkinas, Giedrius Notkus, Darius Sukackas, Saulius Trapuila, Nedas Radišauskas, Gytis Stalerūnas and a guest from Estonia, Markus Tammoja, will fight for victories in M series BMW cars.
The BMW Cup standings promise to be no less interesting, where Ovidijus Vaštakas, Andrius Grigaitis, Mantas Garbuzas, Tadas Pupeikis, Marius Kemešys, Adomas Kepalas and Majus Braškys will compete for the top positions.
Fans of four-wheel drive cars will also have their favorites. In addition to the large contingent of “Rally2” equipment, participants of “Rally3”, “Rally4”, N5, PROTO LT, historical cars and other Lithuanian car rally championships will start, so there will be no shortage of battles in the entire list of participants.
DACIA vehicles, supplied by the official Lithuanian dealer ‘Sostena’, will serve as the official safety cars throughout the entire rally.
A total of 17 Special Stages, the total length of which will reach 134 kilometers await the participants of the anniversary “Rokiškio Grand Rally” event. The competitions to be held on August 13-15 will include the Lithuanian Rally Championship, the FIA European Rally Trophy, Tour European Rally (TER) Championship and Lithuanian Rally4 Trophy events.