Latvia Takes FIA World Rally Championship Crown from Estonia
For the first time ever, Latvia will host a round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), stepping into the slot formerly held by Estonia. The new rally is based on the renowned Rally Liepāja, part of the FIA European Rally Championship. Expect fast gravel roads—similar to Estonia’s terrain—but with unique twists that will challenge even the most seasoned drivers, many of whom are tackling Latvia’s stages for the first time.
Kalle Rovanperä Leads the Charge With Local Experience
Reigning world champ Kalle Rovanperä arrives with a homegrown edge. He started his rally career in Latvia, clinching the national championship in both 2016 and 2017 as a teenager. Fresh from a stunning victory at Rally Poland after a late invitation, Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen will mark their 50th start with Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) since joining the top tier in 2020.
Ogier and Evans Return After Poland Setbacks
Fans can expect a warm welcome for Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais as they return to the WRC action in Latvia after missing Rally Poland due to an accident during reconnaissance. Both Ogier and Elfyn Evans will be racing in Latvia for the first time. Their co-drivers bring valuable Rally Liepāja experience—Scott Martin, Evans’ co-driver, won the event back in 2015 on snow and ice alongside the late Craig Breen.
Evans and Martin are fired up to build on their strong second-place finish in Poland, nudging them just 15 points shy of the championship lead.
Chasing the Championship Lead
With just a 10-point gap separating Toyota, the battle is on. Takamoto Katsuta returns to Latvia for the first time since 2015, aiming to improve on his previous efforts as part of the TGR WRC Challenge Program. Meanwhile, the WRC2 category boasts five GR Yaris Rally2 cars, including Sami Pajari, who’s hot on the heels of a championship lead after back-to-back wins in Sardinia and Poland. Other contenders include Mikko Heikkilä (Finland), Gregor Jeets (Estonia), and newbies Rakan Al-Rashed (Saudi Arabia) and Canadian Brandon Semenuk, a double American national champ.
Rally Latvia: Full Speed Ahead from Riga to Liepāja
The action kicks off Thursday evening in Latvia’s capital, Riga, with a thrilling super special stage at the Biķernieki circuit. Friday’s longest route covers a blistering 120.92 competitive kilometres northwest of Riga, with no midday service—only tyre fitting zones before the morning and afternoon loops.
Saturday’s stages move closer to Liepāja, featuring midday service, while Sunday wraps up with two stages run twice, promising a nail-biting finish.
Team Insights: Rally Latvia’s Fresh Challenge
Jari-Matti Latvala, Team Principal “Latvia is new to the WRC but expect fast and flowing stages, similar to Rally Poland but even wider and quicker roads. The biggest challenge is many stages will only be driven once, so crews will have to write heaps of new pacenotes. It’s a great challenge for everyone. After Poland’s strong performance and Kalle’s fantastic win, we hope to keep the momentum going. Having Seb back strengthens the team, which is vital in such a tight championship.”
Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen “I’m buzzing to return to Latvia. I have great memories from my early career there, but it’s been seven years since I last competed. This rally will be fast, blending traits of Poland and Estonia. We had a solid run in Poland despite unusual conditions, and with better prep, we aim to do well in Latvia.”
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin “Rally Latvia could feel a lot like Rally Poland with fast gravel but with its own quirks. We felt good in Poland and want to build on that. Hopefully, we can keep our strong championship push going and score big points.”
Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais “Missing Poland was tough, but I’ve recovered well and am excited to tackle a new event. Latvia’s high-speed roads will be a fresh challenge, and I can’t wait to see what we can do there.”
Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston “My last rally in Latvia was marked by one of my biggest crashes! It’s been a long time, so this will be a completely new story. The rally will be fast like Poland, and I’m focused on improving and setting a strong target for the weekend.”
