How do you feel before the event?

The feeling is great, sun is shining.

How do you like the fast Liepāja roads?

These are the typical Rally Liepāja roads, not much has changed. We just need to get used to them. Everything here is organized extremely well, even the recce. Here in Latvia, we are very good at organizing these events. The fast roads are something we have to live with.

What do you enjoy more – flat out stages, or slower and more technical ones?

I do not like the slow stages. My kind of stages are the ones where your foot is flat to the floor and you try to figure out if the car can take the corners at this speed.

Last year you had a great result in ERC2 class here. Did that give you additional motivation to come back?

It did, and this is the way we expect to continue for the near future. I plan to compete for at least two or three more years.

How has your preparation changed, compared to last year?

This year has been a bit more difficult because of Covid-19 limitations, but not significantly so.

What elements are you looking to improve?

We are facing an issue with team mechanics. Our team is very international, with members from Russia, Poland, Spain… Currently, they cannot get to work.

Does that mean that you need to look for local specialists?

Yes, but there aren’t enough of them. This is the only problem, though – everything else is great.

What result are you hoping for this weekend?

I would be happy to remain where I was last year. We are probably not ready to fight for a victory yet, but battling for second or third place might be possible.

So are you planning to fight for the win next year?

Yes, we are planning to be on the top step in 2022.

Is the heat not a problem for you?

No, definitely not. I have a lot of experience driving in Spain on asphalt, so this does not register as being hot for me.

How easy is it to both compete in the event and manage your team?

It is very difficult. You always need to have a switch that you must remember to turn off. Complete recce, turn off the switch – just like with cars, so the battery does not run out. Here, everything is exactly the same – after completing a stage, I want to call and check in on everyone, but the people in my team know their job and I trust that they will manage to do it well.

FIA European Rally Championship event Rally Liepāja is possible thanks to the support provided by the Latvian Government, rally city of Liepāja, as well as Talsi region. We would like to thank our sponsors Neste, Ramirent, and SC Grupa/Eurovia, as well as supporters Blue Shock Race, Canon Business Center Liepāja, Fristads, Liepāja Olympic Center, Liepaja Special Economic Zone, and Sixt. Media support is provided by news media DELFI and media partners Kurzemes Radio, Sporta Avīze, and Talsu Vēstis. The rally would also not be possible without help by Rally Liepāja friends: Flora, FN Serviss, Jānis Pūce, Kokmuiža Celmlauzis, Lofbergs, MB Grupa, Red Bull, SignTech, and Törley. Rally Liepāja is organized with the support of Aizpute, Durbe, Grobiņa, and Priekule region councils. A special thanks goes to the Latvian Automobile Federation.

More news about Rally Liepāja available online at www.lvrally.com, as well as on social media Twitter @LVRally, Facebook /LVRally, draugiem.lv /lvrally, YouTube /RallyLiepāja, and Instagram /lvrally.