The 55th Saaremaa rally will start on Friday. A total of 168 rally crews from Estonia and further afield are coming to the competition.
The seventh and also the last stage of the series of Estonian car rally championships will be held at the 55th Saaremaa Rally in the spirit of jubilee. In this year's rally, the competitors have to pass a total of 13 speed tests during the two days of the competition, three of which are run on Friday and ten on Saturday. The length of the course is 608.23 kilometers, of which additional tests make up 134.56 kilometers.
168 crews from eight different countries will start, and a close fight for podium places is expected in all nine competition classes. As many as nine R5 rally cars will fight for the overall victory of the rally, and the proto-cars included in the EMV1 calculation will definitely offer competition to them. Among the other well-known names, local men from Saaremaa, Ken Torn, and the recent junior world champion of car rally, Robert Virves, will also start in Škoda Fabia R5 machines.
"The entire rally organizing team is making the last efforts and preparations to make the 55th Saaremaa Rally memorable, powerful and enjoyable for both drivers and spectators. We have already set up the race route and there is still one last touch left before the rally men and women hit the track on Thursday are going to get to know each other. We are waiting for all old and new rally friends in Saaremaa, because we need to hold a nice anniversary rally together. I wish everyone great rally experiences and enjoy our beautiful autumn Saaremaa!" said competition director Villi Pihl.
The first race car will cross the podium on Friday, October 7 at 5:30 p.m. from the central square of Kuressaare, and the first test will start at 6:28 p.m., which is the 17.29-kilometer Läbara speed test in Sõrve.
Speed tests are paid for and visitors must purchase a rally pass for €20, which is valid for all tests on both days, besides the rally pass, there is also the possibility to purchase test-specific passes for €10 on the access roads leading to the tests. Children up to and including 15 years of age can enter the speed tests for free. However, the Ralli maintenance park is free for all interested parties.
Tickets and rally souvenirs are on sale at the Saare Selver (Tallinn 67) sales point and the rally shop at the S-Link store (Pikk 42b). Information intended for spectators can be found in the official magazine of the Saaremaa rally, which is on sale in both rally shops and Saare Kütus filling stations.
The race can also be watched via telecast from Delfi TV, where you can see live footage of the 5th, 10th and 12th speed tests. In addition, Kadi Radio operates a rally radio on the frequency of 90.5 MHz, which transmits operational information and participants' emotions and comments at the end of all speed tests. However, you can see live footage of Friday's city test and both podiums on the YouTube channel of the Estonian Autosport Association.
Saaremaa rally schedule:
Friday, October 7:
18:28 - SS1 S-LINK / Läbara (17.29 km)
19:13 - SS2 ERTEC EHITUS / Kaugatoma (9.80 km)
20:11 - SS3 STADIUM HOTEL / Kuressaare city (1.74 km)
Saturday, October 8:
07:30 - SS4 WARMA AUTO / Salavere 1 (7.00 km)
08:00 - SS4 SIKASSAARE VANAMETALL / Jööri 1 (7.35 km)
08:55 - SERVICE A (15 min)
09:53 - SS5 ISLAND OF PETS / Järise (9.84 km)
10:51 - SS6 JAVICAR / Salavere 2 (7.00 km)
11:21 - SS7 HONDA / Jööri 2 (7.35 km)
13:29 - SS8 ALME CAR / Rahtla 1 (7.91 km)
14:04 - SS9 NORDAUTO / Undva 1 (20.78 km)
15:19 - SERVICE C (25 min)
16:27 - SS10 EURONICS / Rahtla 2 (7.91 km)
17:02 - SS10 CRAMO / Undva 2 (20.78 km)
18:00 - SS10 SILVESTON / Toomalyuka (9.81 km)
19:00 - Award ceremony at Kuressaare central square
Source: ERR