Liepaja an undecided 5th round in ERC

Before the competition ends on asphalt, the 2022 ERC competitors will take to the gravel in Latvia. At the start of this sprint, the debates are very open with several ambitious drivers.

Published on 30/06/2022 à 09:54

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Appearing for the first time in 2013, Liepaja is celebrating its 10th edition this year in ERC. The Latvian sleeve is based in Talsi, a small town 120 kilometers northeast of the capital Riga. Fifth round of the season, this should also be the last on gravel, since the calendar of 8 meetings has been drawn up fairly between the two surfaces. In the Baltic country, the competitors will face very fast stages on often very hard roads. The averages are high each year, with Nikolay Gryazin winning at 118km/h in 2021. For this edition, the crews will have to cover 181,01 timed km divided into 12 SS (8 different routes). The debates will open on Friday from 17:15 p.m. (16:15 p.m. in France) with the shakedown and the important qualifying session which will allow the drivers to choose their position on the road for the first stage.

Nile Solans (Red Bull Content Pool)

Tom Kristensson (Red Bull Content Pool)

Au sein de la liste des 50 engagés (dont 22 Rally2/R5), s’il n’y a aucun ancien vainqueur de l’épreuve, plusieurs candidats apparaissent. Leader du championnat avec 24 points d’avance sur le 2e, Efren Llarena (Fabia) possède une bonne connaissance de cette manche qu’il dispute pour la 4e fois (4e rang en 2021). L’Espagnol de 27 ans cherchera à creuser encore l’écart, mais il devra composer avec son compatriote Nil Solans qui a montré en Pologne qu’il maîtrisait déjà le maniement de sa Hyundai i20 Rally2. Sur ce terrain rapide, Tom Kristensson (Hyundai R5) viendra jouer les trouble-fêtes au même titre que Ken Torn (Fiesta). D’autres outsiders comme Simon Wagner (Fabia), Josep Bassas (Fabia) ou Javier Pardo (Fabia) seront à surveiller.

Yoann Bonato (Red Bull Content Pool)

Hayden Paddon (Red Bull Content Pool)

For his second participation in the event, Yoann Bonato will rely on his experience from last year to aim for a good result. Even if he will not leave with the best assets, Hayden Paddon is making a return to Europe which will be interesting to follow. In the lower category, Liepaja will serve as the setting for a new duel between Laurent Pellier (Corsa) and Anthony Fotia (Clio) for the victory of ERC2. The two French people will, however, have to be wary of the Finnish Toni Herranen (Fiesta) and the Italian Andrea Mabellini (Clio).