Martins Sesks, the local boy who became a national star before the Latvian Rally

He is the rising star of rally world: Martins Sesks created a sensation during the Polish Rally at the end of June, finishing 5th. For his first in the premier category, aboard a Ford Puma without a hybrid system, the young 24-year-old driver showed a very interesting level, modeled on that of the best and most experienced.

An impressive top speed that he will have the opportunity to demonstrate again this weekend for the Latvia Rally, his home event. The Latvian will take the next step since M-Sport will provide him with a hybrid Rally1, like the other drivers WRC. And he will have arguments to do even better than in Poland: in addition to the surplus of electrical power, Martins Sesks will be buoyed by the popular fervor surrounding him in his country. The Latvian public, who came in large numbers to the stages of the Rally Poland, will obviously be even more numerous this weekend, all supporters of their local hero.

Martins Sesks without pressure in Latvia

The vice-champion ofERC is also a specialist in his national rally because, despite his young age, Martins Sesks has already won the Latvia Rally in ERC twice, in 2022 and 2023. Enough to propel him directly as an outsider this weekend, while Latvia is hosting a round of the WRC for the first time in its history?

“It's a really intense time, but it's always good to have some riding time. My home event in Latvia promises to be exciting, says Martins Sesks. Competing in Poland helped me a lot to understand what the car can do and how the aerodynamics work, but we will now use the hybrid too. I don't think it puts any more pressure on me. We all know that all WRC drivers are extremely fast. I'll do my best. I hope what we did in Poland helped the organizers in Latvia sell even more tickets. It will be exciting for the fans to have a compatriot at this level. »

The Latvian will, however, have a lot to do in his national event, with a full Rally1 field. Ten crews will be at the start of the Latvia Rally, with the notable presence of world champions Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier in Toyota. In the event of a good performance, there is no doubt that Martins Sesks will become a national darling... and a potential candidate for a starting place in the near future.

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