It was left till the very last stage to decide the winner of 2WD class. Crew Janis Berkis / Edgars Ceporjus were leading rally in their Ford Fiesta ST from the very first stage, only to roll out of victory contention a few kilometres before the finish of the very last test. This left Karlis Nebars / Gundars Berkis in their OKarte Autosport Academy Ford Fiesta R2 to take the glory in their first ever (!) rally.
„To be honest, we did not expect to be fighting for a win,” said a new-born 24-year-old rally star. „But the car was perfect, co-driver was perfect, and it was just my day. I was driving very fast, and it payed off. We were only 4 seconds adrift of Berkis prior to last stage, having fought back 1minute deficit. So to be honest, I am so sorry for Janis – I would have liked this fight to end in a proper style: everyone stays on the road and it is just the time which decides the fastest one!”
Crew of Ralfs Sirmacis / Maris Kulss came home second in their OKarte Autosport Academy Ford Fiesta R2, 45 seconds behind the leader after 115 kms of competitive mileage. 17-year-old Sirmacis admitted that his aim was to win, but he made wrong tyre choice for first loop of stages and that cost him a chance to fight for a win. In the end, Ford Fiesta blew it’s opposition away amongst all 2WD cars – the closest finisher was more than 2 minutes adrift of Fiestas in his Renault Clio.
In the end, WRC Academy crew of Estonians Mikko-Ove Niinemae / Martin Valter secured 3rd place in Fiesta Cup standings in their Ford Fiesta R2, although more than four minutes behind the leader. Janis Berkis / Edgars Ceporjus finished fourth in Fiesta Cup, 10 minutes behind leader.
Marcis Kenavs / Aleksandrs Innuss were in afight for a 2WD class win after 2 stages, only to suffer a minor off and bent rear suspension on SS3. They were forced to withdraw from competition right after the stage because damage to suspension of their OKarte Autosport Academy Ford Fiesta R2 was too big to continue the rally.
Polish crew of Hubert Ptaszek / Daniel Lesniak managed only 1 kilometre of competitive mileage before electrical problem forced them into retirement.
The next round of Fiesta Cup Latvia takes place on May 12-13 – it will be „Rally Talsi” in Latvia. For thar event organisers expect not less than 8 Fiesta cars on starting grid. See you there!
Martins Dzenitis, PR manager of Fiesta Cup Latvia
