Blūms and Eglītis have been well-known for competing with their Mitsubishi Evo, nicknamed “Inese.” With this car, they achieved victories and impressive results, but unfortunately, after a crash at the South Estonia Rally, “Inese” had to retire from competition. Their start in Cēsis with a VAZ will be a special event – an opportunity for both the crew and fans to experience something unusual. The VAZ has always held a special place in rally history, and this start will add both intrigue and classic rally charm to the event.
“Rally Cēsis has always been special, and this time we wanted to give fans something out of the ordinary. The VAZ is a classic rally car – driving it is both a challenge and an adventure. Didzis and I see it as a great experience, and we hope it will bring fans some fun emotions,” says Emīls Blūms.
Why the VAZ? “After the ‘Inese’ crash, we wanted to add a bit of humor and lightness to this season. The VAZ is a car that always brings joy – both for the drivers and the fans. It’s also a small tribute to the classics.”
Which VAZ and from whom? “We’ll be driving a car owned by our friend – Latvian motorsport veteran Viesturs Tilgass. We asked him if he had a car we could take for a spin on the Cēsis roads, and he entrusted us with his carefully maintained VAZ with historic status. I think everyone should see it in person – it’s a true example of how a sports car should be. We’re very grateful for Viesturs’ trust – it’s an honor for us. This is the perfect car to enjoy driving and show the fans something unusual.”
When was the last time you drove a VAZ? “To be honest, it’s been quite a while – I think I was around 12 years old! But probably for many guys now aged 25–50, their first car experiences as kids involved a VAZ. I remember working during the summers to earn money to buy my own VAZ, driving with friends and testing it on the Rauna forest roads. It was definitely one of the best ways to spend childhood.”
What are your goals in this rally – competing for results or putting on a show for the fans? “Our main goal in this rally is to gain as many positive emotions as possible. Rally, the king of motorsport, has been missing for us, because nothing can replace the feeling you get on the track – you just want to be there and drive. Of course, we also want to make the fans happy – we’ll smile and enjoy every moment driving a rear-wheel-drive car.”
What can we expect from your crew in the near future?
“We’ve acquired new Mitsubishi Evo components. The plan is to carefully prepare them over the winter period and then return to the track at full power.”
Rally Cēsis 2025 will bring together the fastest crews from Latvia and the Baltic states, as well as international participants. The event counts towards the Latvian Rally Championship, Rallysprint, and the Historic Rally Cup, providing fans with speed, excitement, and thrills over two days. Spectator information – stage maps will be published on Tuesday, September 16.
More information about the motorsport event is available on Rally Cēsis social media channels: Facebook Rallijs Cēsis, Instagram and TikTok @rallycesis, and the official championship website: www.autorally.lv.
Tickets for spectators are available in advance at www.bilesuserviss.lv, as well as on-site at the rally stages.
More information:
Zane Lielkāja-Gerika / Rally Cēsis
Tel.: +371 26612249
E-mail: zane.lielkajagerika@zecom-agency.lv