Highlights from the Latvian Autocross Championship and Cup: Xtreme Junior, Xtreme Buggy, and More

Photo: Kalvis Zaļaiskalns

15-16 In July, in the “Pilskalni” sports complex, the Latvian Autocross Championship and Cup, as well as the Baltic Autocross Cup competitions were held in hot weather. A surprise for the audience was the Super Buggy show class, in which European-level drivers Ervins Grencis and Māris Līcis were among the participants.

One of the fastest growing and largest classes in terms of the number of participants this season is the XTM Mini buggies, 22 new drivers entered the class at the start. Lithuanian riders Kristupas Pilipavičius and Patrikas Dungveckis showed a convincing performance on both days of the competition, both athletes took the first two positions on the podium at the end of the competition. The beginning of the competition was less successful for this season’s debutant Patricijas Neikšanas, who had to fight for a place in the final, B final race after the qualifications. The young athlete started from the last row in the finals, in the competition of 12 athletes, during seven laps she was able to fight to the third position and finish in the top three. The team also secured its current position in the overall standings after completing three stages in the season.

11 competitors in the Xtreme Junior buggy class. After three qualifications, Oskars ZaĹītis, Roberts Čākurs and Raivo Jānis Beierbachs took the first starting row in the final race. In the first corner, after a small collision between Zakiš and Čākur, Raivo’s Jānis Beierbachs and Jānis Kozlovskis took advantage of the opportunity and rose to the leading positions. Shortly after the first collision, Zaqitis and Čākurs could not split the track and their final race ended after only a few turns on the track, Emil Mirošnik was also unable to avoid the collision, for whom this was his debut race in the Xtreme Junior class. A convincing performance for Beierbach, who celebrated the victory, Kozlowski second, while Marcel Romanowski took third place.

Photo: Kalvis Zaļaiskalns

In the Xtreme buggy class, similar events to the Junior class. Gatis Geisters, Roberts Rumbenieks and Elvijs ZaĹītis are the fastest in the qualifications. Geister was faster at the start of the final race, followed by Rumbenieks and Lithuanian Matas Zavarskis. Unfortunately, Rumbenieks and ZaĹītis were left on the side of the track due to a collision, a collision, and they have to continue watching the final from the sidelines. The main battles for the first and second positions in the final, shared by Geister and Zawarski. At the finish, Geister was first, Zavarskis was second, and Mikus Neško won third place.

The favorites of the day in the B1600 buggy class are Māris Riekstiņš, Niks Apfelbaums and Edgars Zīverts. Zīverts, Riekstiņš, Apfelbaums and Lithuanian Kestutis Krakis fought for the leading position in the final. Light collisions between the leaders, Riekstiņš tried to avoid them by going to the joker, due to technical problems he stayed on the side of the track, losing the opportunity to fight for the podium. Sieverts and Apfelbaums shared the victory until the last meters, but Sieverts turned out to be faster – finished first, Apfelbaums second, Krakis third.

In the VAZ classic class, Kristaps Eglītis showed a convincing performance during the competition, who was able to continue his performance in the final as well, winning the race. The second and third positions are unclear until the last meters. Initially, Armands Kēniņš and Raitis Gusevs will be the leaders, but both athletes experience technical problems during the finals, as a result of which they withdraw. The top three are achieved by Ivo Žilde and Jānis Logins. Eddy Zimza surprised both drivers and spectators, who shortened the track configuration twice in the final race, for unknown reasons.

In the final of the Open class, there is a bigger fight for the third position, while Ints Jeršovs and Uldis Megnis are in the first two positions. Clashes, fights and changes of positions behind the leaders. The race cannot be without incidents, the most pronounced being Aigar Bayar and Art Voicis, where Bayar rammed and cut the car of Voicis. At the finish of the final, the leaders change, the first is Jershov, the second is Bayar, and the third is Megnis. However, the incident between Bayar and Voicish does not remain without consequences, the judges apply a penalty and Bayar loses his position among the leaders. The podium in the Open class: first Jeršov, second Megnis, and third Jānis Gustāns.

Photo: Kalvis Zaļaiskalns

The final of the 1600 class is especially awaited, when the debutant Lelde Shuma is among the leaders during the competition. Several position changes during the final, but Jānis Nagla is the first, Đirts Kuzmanis is the second, and Lelde Šuma wins the third place, whose debut turns out to be a positive turn in the new challenge.

In the 2000 Super class, Māris Murdoks led the final, followed by Ivo Gabrāns and Viesturs Plētiens, who completed the joker laps in time, later reducing Murdok’s advantage. Murdoch went into his joker on the last lap, losing the lead and letting Gabrán and Plétien in front. Gabrāns celebrated the victory in the class, Plétiens took the second place, and Murdok reached the third place.

In the B6000 class, an interesting final race – the podium was shared by three Estonian athletes, the first was Ots Kevvai, the second was Markus Heidebergs, and the third was Martins Talvs. Ainārs Ramat’s buggy had a flat tire, so in the last lap he was overtaken by Kalvis Blum, reaching the fourth place.

A tight final in the D12/D13 class of trucks. Andris Ribaks with his D13 machine kept Estonian Veikos Hirsniks and Bruno Leimanis behind him for a long time. Leymanis understood the situation and went Jokeri, later catching the leaders again. Hirsnik went to joker, and Leymanis got ahead of him. Bruno looked for a long time to pass Rybak, but realized that the victory of his class was in hand and he had to drive carefully. At the finish, Ribak wins in the D13 class, while Leimanis, Hirsnik and Andre Motus take the top three in D12.

In the Super Buggy Show, Ervibns Grencis “slepts” the start quite a bit, so the battle is tense right from the start. Everything will be resolved at the moment when Grencis and Māris Līcis meet, there is contact between the two, Māris remains on the side of the track. Ervin first, and Mashevsky second, despite the fact that the buggy only had rear drive.

Overall season standings after three rounds –

The fourth stage of the Latvian autocross championship and cup will take place on July 29 at the Vecpils highway. Tickets for the autocross competition are available at www.aula.lv, as well as at the venue.

Follow the news on the official website www.axlatvia.lv. Information can also be found on the social networks Facebook/ @axlatvia.lv and Instagram/ @axlatvia.lv

Information prepared by:
Zane Lielkāja-Greece / AX Latvia

2023-07-18 22:29:08
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