For the second consecutive year Sander Pärn managed to become Estonian Champion in 2WD 1600 class. In 2013 he did it with his long-time co-driver Ken Jšrveoja. He repeated his title victory also this year but with a new co-driver from Wales called James Morgan. Pärn and Morgan also secured the title in Estonian Junior rally championship series. ”Estonian rallying season has been a good success for us this year. We are happy with both of these titles,” explained Pärn. The young estonian added that they also had some bad luck during the year with two retirements. ”We had some misfortune but we were certainly not the only ones who witnessed it, so all together we should be satisfied,” said Pärn.
All though the Estonian rally calendar consist of 7 events Pärn and Morgan managed to secure their titles before the last event. The 7th round will be driven on the island of Saaremaa a week after WRC event in France. In both categories their lead is enough to ensure their 2014 Estonian titles. ”Throughout the year we have had great battles with Rasmus Uustulnd – Imre Kuusk, Rainer and Rauno Rohtmets and Kristen Kelement – Timo Kasesalu. The competition is very tight in 2WD category and all the drivers are young and ambitious, which makes it even more difficult,” explained Pärn. Sander added that when they made a hard and risky decision two years ago two come from a 4WD car and sit back into the 2WD car. ”Now, after two years have gone by, i can say that it was a good decision. I have learned a lot and our speed on a 2WD car has increased significantly throughout these years. I think i have also grown as a sportsman,” said Pärn.
Those two estonian titles would not have been possible without the help of Sander’s good friend and partner Niko-Pekka Nieminen and his father’s company Katap Racing OY. ”We are very happy and grateful for our good collaboration over the past two years with Katap Racing OY,” said Pärn.
The year 2014 saw also a new championship series within the World rally Championship. It was called DRIVE Dmack FIESTA TROPHY and it consists of 5 different events across the Europe. The winner of the series will get an opportunity to contest in the WRC-2 category with a R-5 rally car in 2015. This is a very exciting price out there for a young rally driver to get.
Sander Pärn and James Morgan have had a great success within the series so far in 2014. ”We have won 3 out of 4 events. Once we were second, so we can say that it has been a good year for us so far. Our aim and also the biggest target for this year is the overall victory of the series,” explained Pärn. The young Estonian added that they can secure the title in Spain which is the last round of the DRIVE Dmack FIESTA TROPHY series. We will do a good preparation before Spain and then we will be ready to tackle those stages out there. Hopefully it will be a successful event for us,” said Pärn.
A successful rally team is much bigger than a driver and a co-driver. Sander Pärn has had a very strong and professional team behind him throughout his rally career. ”I have got help from Kuldar Sikk, Urmo Aava, Andrus Laur, Kris Meeke, Kristo Kraag, Juss Roden, Markko Märtin, Ott Tänak and of-course Ken Järveoja, my long-time co-driver and friend and advisor,” explained Pärn. Sander added that he has been very lucky to be part of such a great team. ”A special thanks goes also to Indrek Tammvere, who’s team is responsible for the performance of their training and rally cars. We have had a perfect car throughout the season so far,” said Pärn.
”I hope the two titles which we have secured in Estonia have motivated the members of the team and we will go on with our aim to be a part of the word rally championship series in the best possible way,” said Pärn.
