Exciting Battles Await at Rally Sarma 2025

Rally Sarma 2025, set to kick off in Gulbene on the evening of February 14, promises thrilling battles not only for the overall victory but also in every competition class. The main focus will be on the fight for the overall win, as no Latvian rally crew has managed to claim victory at Sarma since 2010 when Ivars Vasaraudzis last won. Given the unpredictable Baltic winter weather and the rescheduling of the rally to a weekend that coincides with the Swedish Rally, several strong foreign crews have opted out of Sarma, creating an opportunity for Latvian drivers to compete for the overall win.

When discussing contenders for the overall victory, Emīls Blūms and Ralfs Sirmacis stand out, as they already showcased a spectacular duel in the first championship round of the year, battling right to the finish. This duel will likely continue at Rally Sarma. Estonian driver Kaspars Kasari is also expected to join the fight, although his season opener was not particularly successful. However, one must not forget Jānis Vorobjovs, the most experienced Rally Sarma participant, who will be starting this event for the 28th time. Estonian drivers Alans Popovs and Miks Ķenavs might also enter the fray, although they struggled to keep pace with the top contenders in the first championship round. Just behind this leading group, another exciting battle will unfold, featuring rally veteran Guntis Lielkājis against Elvis Hermanis and Lithuanian driver Paulius Beniušis. However, each of these drivers is also capable of challenging the top six. Additionally, they must all be wary of Mārtiņš Ločmelis, whose excellent performance in the first championship round was hindered by an engine failure.

A major new addition to Rally Sarma is the buggy or SSV (side-by-side vehicle) class. This is the first time these vehicles will compete in a major rally event, as they have previously only raced in mini-rallies. Furthermore, this experimental class has attracted one participant from each Baltic country, making the competition even more intriguing. Latvian driver Rolands Puravs explains the situation in this class:

"These buggies are different. We are racing with the new R model, which is technically quite different from the other two X3 models - essentially the older versions. We have a DTC 7-speed gearbox and a standard 240-horsepower 1.0-liter engine. Our competitors have 900cc tuned buggies with a CVT gearbox. As far as I know, the Estonian team has a modified buggy with increased power and a rebuilt gearbox for a higher top speed. The races should be very close since we've had the chance to compete with similar buggies before, and the results have been highly unpredictable. We've raced against the Estonian team in an asphalt mini-rally, but we only know that the Lithuanian team is among the fastest in their country. All three teams have prepared thoroughly, and we won’t be giving each other any leeway. Plus, we have never competed in a winter stage before, so the intrigue is high."

Returning to classic rally competition, the RWD car category will offer a thrilling battle. Expect an intense showdown between Rolands Jaunzems and Dans Leščs, who have returned to rallying after several years with a significantly improved car. However, they may struggle to keep up with the ever-fast Estonian driver Markus Tammoja, who, for unknown reasons, has registered for the historic car category.

Looking at the historic rally car class, which will hit the track before the main rally crews, there won’t be many surprises - Kristaps Dzīvītis, with his flying Audi, is sure to be a crowd favourite. However, neither Intars Rezakovs nor Māris Erts are much slower, so spectators should not miss the early stages of the rally.

In the rallysprint category, several experienced and fast competitors will also take part. Jurģis Meisters, Vigo Rubenis, and Gatis Ābelītis are not only among the fastest in the rallysprint championship but can also challenge some of the rally championship competitors and keep pace with the top ten. Moreover, at this anniversary edition of Rally Sarma, they will have to complete the same distance as the main rally championship participants, allowing for a full comparison of performance.

Regarding the starting order of Rally Sarma 2025, it is important to note that the historic rally cars will hit the track first, followed by a short break with safety crews before the rally championship participants take off. Additionally, Latvian rallies are introducing an international practice where the "green light" – the opening car of the stage – will only enter the track after the last competing car has finished. This rule is being implemented to ensure emergency services have free access to the track while the race is ongoing.

For more information about Rally Sarma 2025, visit the Latvian Rally Championship website at autorally.lv.

Tickets can be purchased through the e-ticketing platform eKase.lv. Organizers recommend securing tickets in advance, as mobile network coverage may be limited in some stage locations, making online access difficult.

_________________________________________

Gulbenes novada ceļos 2025. gada 15. februārī ar Emīla Blūma un Didža Eglīša uzvaru tika nosvinēta tradicionālā ziemas rallija "Sarma" piecdesmitā jubileja. Kā jau bija paredzēts, rallijā netrūka spraigas cīņas un spilgtu notikumu, kurus klātienē vēroja kupls skatītāju pulks. Zinot, ka rallija "Sarma" kopvērtējuma uzvaru piecpadsmit gadus pēc kārtas bija izcīnījuši ārvalstu sportisti, šoreiz jau no paša sacīkšu sākuma latviešu ekipāžas diktēja tempu un radīja milzīgu intrigu, kas pārsteidza ne vienu vien rallija fanu.

Jau pirmais ātrumposms parādīja, ka uz uzvaru rallija kopvērtējumā pretendē vismaz piecas ekipāžas. Taču katrs nākamais kilometrs ieviesa savas korekcijas šajā aizraujošajā sacīkstē. Otrajā ātrumposmā Ralfa Sirmača automašīnai radās problēma ar pusasi, kas ievērojami samazināja viņa ātrumu un izslēdza no cīņas par uzvaru. Trešajā ātrumposmā smagu avāriju tehnisku problēmu dēļ piedzīvoja Miks Ķenavs.

Turpmākajos divos ātrumposmos Jānis Vorobjovs uzrādīja labākos rezultātus, strauji samazinot Emīla Blūma pārsvaru un radot milzīgu intrigu par sacensību iznākumu. Pēdējā ātrumposmā no cīņas izstājās šī rallija lielākais pārsteiguma autors Mārtiņš Ķikusts, kurš visu ralliju faktiski elpoja pakausī abiem rallija līderiem. Automašīnas kardāna defekts liedza iespēju turpināt sacīksti. Viņa izstāšanās ļāva uz trešo vietu pakāpties igaunim Kasparam Kasari.

Visi elpu aizturējuši gaidīja, vai Vorobjovs būs pietiekami ātrs, lai apsteigtu Blūmu, taču viņš finišēja ar salauztu riteņa disku un ieguva otro vietu kopvērtējumā. Pēc finiša Emīls Blūms atzina, ka arī viņa uzvara bija uz mata:

"Mēs uz otro apli neuzlikām jaunas riepas, un sāka mirt starpasu diferenciālis, kas radīja problēmas ātrākajās trases vietās. Tad bija svarīgi saglabāt vēsu prātu un nobraukt līdz galam. Protams, vienmēr ir vieglāk ķert nekā nosargāt. Esmu priecīgs, ka izdevās sasniegt finišu un ka pēc ilgās pauzes tieši mūsu ekipāža ir tā, kas uzvarēja. Liels paldies organizatoru komandai par šiem tiešām lieliskajiem svētkiem un īpašas uzslavas Sniedzānu ģimenei."

Jāpiemin, ka apbalvošanā, kas sākotnēji nebija plānots, uzvarētāju kausu Emīlam Blūmam un Didzim Eglītim pasniedza Ivars Vasaraudzis, kurš pats rallijā "Sarma" ir uzvarējis četras reizes un bija pēdējais latvietis, kurš triumfēja šajā rallijā pirms piecpadsmit gadiem.

Vienas ass piedziņas grupā pārliecinošu uzvaru izcīnīja igaunis Markuss Tammoja, kurš bija ātrākais visos ātrumposmos un absolūtajā vērtējumā finišēja sestajā vietā. Otro vietu šajā grupā, pēdējā ātrumposmā apdzenot Jāni Cielēnu, izcīnīja Dans Leščs, kurš pēc ilgāka pārtraukuma rallijā atgriezās ar iespaidīgu ātrumu.

Vēsturisko rallija automobiļu ieskaitē uzvaras laurus plūca Kristaps Dzīvītis, kurš ar savu vēsturisko "Audi" spēja demonstrēt apskaužamu ātrumu. Uz goda pjedestāla kāpa arī Māra Erta un Intara Rezakova ekipāžas.

Lielākais rallija "Sarma 2025" jaunums bija bagiju klase, kas pirmo reizi tika iekļauta lielajā rallijā. Tajā šoreiz startēja pa vienai ekipāžai no katras Baltijas valsts. Diemžēl jau pirmajā ātrumposmā lietuviešu ekipāža izstājās, ietriecoties kokā. Pārējās divas ekipāžas visas sacensības laikā cīnījās sīvi, sadalot uzvaras atsevišķos ātrumposmos. Taču pirmajā ātrumposmā zaudētās 17 sekundes liedza latviešu ekipāžai ar Rolandu Puravu pie stūres panākt igauni Tomasu Veski, kurš triumfēja ar tikai 4,9 sekunžu pārsvaru.

Ar rallija "Sarma 2025" rezultātiem iespējams iepazīties Latvijas rallija čempionāta mājaslapā autorally.lv.