Main focus was on introducing this years event and it’s news. Besides that the organizers of auto24 Rally Estonia announced already one top FIA ERC team who’s participating in auto24 Rally Estonia held on 15-17th of July. The reigning European champions and 2016 FIA ERC overall leaders Kajetan Kajetanowicz will be in Estonia with very high hopes.
„auto24 Rally Estonia is one of the best-organized events in the FIA European Rally Championship. The organizers of this rally know well what the sport needs today. This is why the rally is so compact but at the same time fan-friendly and exciting. On top of that there are beautiful and stunningly fast special stages. These are just a few reasons for which I am looking forward to my second visit in Estonia, where I will fight for the best possible result in round six of the FIA ERC“ said Kajetanowicz.
Rainer Aus, last year third place in overall said in press conference that it will be not easy to fight for the podium but they are ready for it. „Last years 3rd place was for us a great result. For sure we want to be in the overall podium this year but we have take account that there are more new R5 cars in FIA ERC series and we have the same car like last year – Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9. But we will fight for the podium in overall and in ERC2,“ said Aus in press conference.
Miko Niinemäe, reigning Estonian champion and 3rd in ERC Junior category in last year’s home event knows he has some advantage in Estonia. „For sure we have small advantage but many ERC Junior drivers were here also last year so they are this year more familiar with the stages. For us is the highest aim to be on the top of podium in ERC Junior category which will be not easy task to complete,“ said Niinemäe in press conference.
One of the changes this year comparing to last year is auto24 Rally Estonia warm-up event held week before the main event. auto24 Rally Estonia Warm-Up is a mini-rally run on 10 July. The aim of the competition is to offer drivers participating at auto24 Rally Estonia a possibility test their cars in similar conditions to the rally. The competition is also open for drivers not participating in auto24 Rally Estonia. Warm-Up event consists of 3 different Special Stages, all of them will be run 3 times.
This year has auto24 Rally Estonia separate class Open. This is for the cars which are not capable to participate in FIA ERC round, both two-and four wheel drive cars. It includes for example WRC cars and also prototype cars.
In addition to being a part of ERC in 2016, auto24 Rally Estonia is also a round of FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship. auto24 Rally Estonia is held on 15-17th of July in Tartu, Elva and on the roads of South-Estonia.
Photo: Andrei Ozdoba and FIA ERC
