20.01 - 21.02.2012

Uudised

The fastest at N4 class, and the overall rally standings at "Alūksne 2012" was Jānis Vorobjovs/Guntars Zicāns. Less than two seconds separated the winners from the Estonian drivers Siim Plangi/Marek Sarapuu, they came 2nd on the N4 as well. At third place at rally overall are Martins Svilis and Aivis Aizsilnieks who was also first at A + group. Jānis Feldmanis /Anrijs Jesse, the only crew that participated in the R4 class, are at fourth place at rally absolute standings. The fifth overall and third in group N4 are Aivis Egle with co-driver Andis Dauge.

Unfortunately, the battle against Estonians Raul Jeet / Andrus Toome crew, which started with their new Mitsubishi EVO X at Alūksne and were considered to be strong competitors against Latvian fastest driders, failed. At two special stages Alūksne's snowdrifts turned out to be fatal for Estonians - received penalty minutes for the delay to the time control, ranked this crew in last place among the rally finishing crews.

Victory at rally 2WD group and second place at overall standings to Jānis Berķis / Edgars Čeporjus. At rally R2 group winner was Ralfs Sirmacis, competing for the first time in a race with a Ford Fiesta R2, he was the third at overall standings and second at rallysprint 2WD Open group. Of rallysprint drivers to whom ASRT rally "Alūksne 2012" was the first round of the championship this year, winners were Russia's Dmitry Mersianov / Aleksej Čumak crew (they started in 4WD open group). Fastest at rally 4WD group - last year champions of this group - Edgars Enkurs with Ainārs Jankovičs. The first at rallysprint 1600 group "Alūksne 2012" turned out to be Mārcis Strautiņš with Guntis Mūrnieks. At rallysprint ROAD group the more specific were Kaspars Borgs /Andris Pāpe, at team overall standings the first one was crew "Quattro ledlauži".

All rally and rallysprint results are found on www.4rati.lv and www.autorally.lv At awards ceremony many special awards were also given to rally participants. Alūksne's District Council chairman Aivars Fomins gave municipality bounty to three fastest crews at rally overall standings.

Electrical company PIRTEL Award - 1000 EUR to fastest single-axis crew, received the winners of 2WD class - Jānis Berķis and Edgars Čeporjus. Vējakalni 1997 awarded three further and highest jumpers at rally final special stage ramps - crews of Jānis Vorobjovs, Aleksejs Mersianovs and Ralfs Sirmacis.

Rally organizers, society of motorsport club Alūksne, say thank you to both Autostils and Autostils Rally Technica and Alūksne's Region Municipality - without them "Alūksne 2012" would certainly not be successful! Thank you to rally supporters - companies Pirtel, Jaunsētas, Vējakalni 1997, SLT, Alta Plus, Apiņi, 4plus, GM Mežs, ZB Auto, "Ad Rem auto Marienburga, SEB, the club "Ideja"; informative supporters www.4rati.lv, www.rally.ee, Tavs auto, "Auto Euro" and Malienas ziņas, as well as the Latvian Rally Motorsport Federation and Standartautomobiļu commissions. Special thank you, of course, to all the drivers, who believed that the there will be a winter in Alūksne at 20th and 21st January, and to the great spectators and fans!

See you at the rally "Alūksne 2013"!

ASRT rally "Alūksne 2012" press service manager Dace Janova. Translated by Linda Rigerte