Martins Sesks secured his maiden WRC stage win on Friday at the 2024 Rally Latvia, while Kalle Rovanpera maintained a commanding overnight lead.
Martiņs Sesks delivered a remarkable performance at the 2024 Rally Latvia to claim his first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) stage win. Meanwhile, reigning champion Kalle Rovanpera demonstrated his dominance by maintaining a strong lead throughout the opening day of this significant rally.
This event marks Latvia’s debut as a host in the WRC, making it the 37th country to stage a round of this prestigious championship.The rally runs from July 18 to July 21, featuring 20 special stages over a total distance of 300.13 kilometers.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Latvia’s forests, the event is known for its fast-paced gravel roads, which include numerous jumps and challenging crests. The excitement surrounding this rally is palpable, as it combines local talent with world-class competition.
Kalle Rovanpera, driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing, started the rally with an impressive performance after winning the opening super special stage on Thursday night and continued to dominate on Friday, winning four out of the seven stages completed by the end of the day.
His ability to adapt to the challenging gravel conditions and make strategic tire choices has been pivotal in establishing his lead. By the end of the first day, Rovanpera had extended his lead to 15.7 seconds over Sesks, showcasing both his skill and experience.
“I feel good with the car, and we are in a strong position,” Rovanpera stated, emphasizing his confidence as he navigated the stages.
Martins Sesks, competing in only his second Rally1 event, captured the attention of fans with his impressive performance. He won two out of the three stages in the morning loop, including the highly competitive Tukums stage.
Sesks’ victory in Tukums, where he outpaced Rovanpera by 1.6 seconds, marked a significant milestone in his career. He was just fourth fastest on that final test, but he was still happy with his Friday to be sandwiched between two world champions.
“This stage win means a lot to me, especially at home,” Sesks expressed, reflecting on the importance of his achievement and the support from local fans.
Ogier lies third on his first fast gravel rally since 2021 and kept Sesks in his sights – trailing the home hero by just 5.9s overnight. Meanwhile, Ott Tänak struggled with confidence and car handling but managed to secure fourth place overall.
“I’m not in a good rhythm; the confidence is not really high,” the Estonian driver admitted, reflecting the challenges faced by many drivers on the demanding terrain.
Adrien Fourmaux, driving for M-Sport was competitive as well, currently sitting in sixth place. He expressed a desire to improve his performance, aiming for a podium finish similar to his result in Poland which is perhaps just as well as he overcame Elfyn Evans on SS5 – despite surviving a hairy wide moment.
However, Fourmaux wasn’t interested in Evans; instead, his eyes were firmly fixed forwards.
“I’m trying to catch Tänak and Taka, that’s my target – the two cars ahead,” Fourmaux said after SS7.
While that seemed like an ambitious target, Takamoto Katsuta then completed the penultimate stage and dropped 3.1s to Fourmaux, leaving him just 1.6s ahead after admitting to needing to save his soft tires.
But Katsuta responded expertly on the final stage, defeating Fourmaux by 3.7s to lead him by 5.3s. The biggest loser however was Ott Tänak who dropped two places from fourth to sixth.
For his part, Tänak reported that he lost the brakes on the penultimate stage of the day, but with his higher start position, he was powerless to defend against Fourmaux and Katsuta’s respective pushes. Overall, the 2019 world champion is 0.3s adrift of Fourmaux.
Elfyn Evans, another strong contender from the Toyota camp, has been consistent throughout the rally, currently positioned within the top five. However, he faced challenges with road cleaning but remained competitive, finishing the day in seventh place.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville also encountered significant difficulties, dropping to ninth place overall. The Belgian driver struggled with the loose gravel conditions, which affected his performance.
“I tried to catch at least one position, but yeah… I don’t know what to say,” said a frustrated Neuville. “Obviously the strategy to win a championship is not the same now, rallying has changed a lot.
“Obviously now things like doing part seasons is much more fun and a bigger benefit for everything. Something to think about.”
Esapekka Lappi won in Latvia when it was a winter event in the European Rally Championship 10 years ago, but there has been no such joy so far this weekend.
The Finn’s miserable run was typified by the front-right tire coming off the rim on the afternoon’s first stage but was still just struggling for confidence and speed.
“On a junction, [there was a] massive hole in the middle of a 90-left and [the tire came] straight out of the rim,” he explained. “I guess [the problem] is between the steering wheel and the seat – it might be the only solution.
“I don’t know what I should do at the moment, I’m fully lost.”
A particularly poor final stage time dropped Lappi two places to 10th as he appeared to slow early before the finish line. That means he will run first on the road tomorrow – crucially for Hyundai, ahead of his team-mate Neuville.
Grégoire Munster flirted with disaster on the second stage of the loop when he ran deep into a slow right-hander and dropped his rear wheels into the road-side ditch.
In WRC2, Oliver Solberg ended Friday with a healthy 31.1s lead over Mikko Heikkila, with Sami Pajari in third.
As Rally Latvia progresses, drivers will face additional stages that test their skills and endurance. The unique layout of the rally, with its limited repeated stages, poses a significant challenge, requiring drivers to continuously adapt their strategies.
The rally features fast-paced gravel roads with jumps and crests, which are commonplace in the region, adding to the excitement for both competitors and spectators.
Eight stages await the crews on Saturday, comprising 104 kilometres.
