Rally Latvia: Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Oliver Solberg goes all-in for WRC2 victory

› As the chase for the WRC2 title heats up, Toksport WRT’s Oliver Solberg (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) aims for the category lead
› At the wheel of another Toksport WRT run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, Gus Greensmith wants to gain experience with the new world championship event
› WRC Masters Cup leader Armin Kremer (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of team Baumschlager Rallye & Racing) chases his fourth consecutive class win

Mladá Boleslav, 17 July 2024 – The string of high-speed gravel rounds continues: After Rally Poland, the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) makes its debut on the fast stages of Rally Latvia (18-21 July 2024). Currently third-placed Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Oliver Solberg needs a victory to close the gap to the WRC2 overall leader.

Rally Latvia for the first time is part of the FIA World Rally Championship. The event also marks the mid-season and is after Rally Poland and before Rally Finland one of three high-speed gravel rounds in succession. Škoda youngster Oliver Solberg travels with good memories to Latvia. He won the event in 2019 and 2020, when it was under the name of Rally Liepāja counting to the FIA European Rally Championship. “I need to attack, I have to go all-in. Only a WRC2 victory helps me in the current situation in the championship,” says the 22-year-old Swede, who together with British co-driver Elliott Edmondson finished second in WRC2 at the recent Rally Poland.

Solberg currently holds third position in the championship standings. While second overall Sami Pajari will be one of Solberg’s main opponents in Latvia, championship leader Yohan Rossel is not competing. The rally is not one of his seven nominated WRC2 points scoring events.

Also driving a Toksport WRT run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, Irish crew Josh McErlean/James Fulton are one of the surprises of the 2024 season. They are regularly among the fastest in WRC2, climbed onto the podium of Rally Portugal and hope for another top result in Latvia.

Gus Greensmith, another driver of a Toksport WRT run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, has not nominated Rally Latvia as one of his WRC2 points scoring events. The Briton and Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson won WRC2 at Safari Rally Kenya. Since then, Greensmith could collect only two additional championship points. He wants to gain experience with the new WRC event without the pressure of delivering a top result. “I have to get back my confidence on fast gravel roads, then more good results will come,” admits Greensmith.

Three starts – three victories: In the WRC Masters Cup, which is reserved for drivers at the age of 50 and older, the German father-daughter crew Armin and Ella Kremer dominate with a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of team Baumschlager Rallye & Racing. In Latvia, Kremer is chasing his fourth consecutive class win, which would extend his overall lead over Škoda stablemates Ricardo Triviño from Mexico (Triviño World Rally Team) and Mauro Miele from Italy (DreamOne Racing).

Rally Latvia runs over 20 special stages covering 300 kilometres. The ceremonial start kicks off the action on Thursday (18 July, 6:15 pm) in the country’s capital Riga. On Friday, the rally heads to the area around Liepāja, the city also hosts the service park. On Sunday (21 July), celebrations begin at 3:15 pm on the podium at Vecpils.

Did you know, that…

...the past two editions of Rally Liepāja – which now is Rally Latvia – were won by then Škoda driver Mārtiņš Sesks?

…Rally Liepāja was first run 1981?

…Rally Liepāja was a round of the FIA European Rally Championship for the first time in 2013?

…in 2014, Esapekka Lappi was the first Škoda driver to win Rally Liepāja?

Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 7 of 13 events)
1 Yohan Rossel (FRA), Citroën, 71 points (from 4 rallies)
2 Sami Pajari (FIN), Toyota, 68 Points (from 4 rallies)
3 Oliver Solberg (SWE), Škoda, 61 points (from 4 rallies)

Standings WRC Masters Cup (after 7 of 13 events)
1 Armin Kremer (DEU), Škoda, 75 points (from 3 rallies)
2 Ricardo Triviño (MEX), Škoda, 63 points (from 4 rallies)
3 Mauro Miele (ITA), Škoda, 51 points (from 3 rallies)

2024 FIA World Rally Championship

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