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World RX drivers test new Riga circuit

The first ever competitive action on the brand new FIA World Rallycross Championship circuit at the Bikernieki venue near Riga in Latvia took place last weekend, followed by a pair of test days for World RX teams and drivers.

Euro RX podium-finisher Joni-Pekka Rajala won the round of the North European Zone Rallycross Championship on Sunday, driving a Mitsubishi Mirage. Latvian star Reinis Nitiss finished second driving a Skoda Fabia for the Muennich Motorsport team, while fellow Latvian World RX ace Janis Baumanis was forced to retire with brake problems on his Ford Fiesta.

On Monday and Tuesday, a number of World RX and Euro RX competitors tested at the circuit, the test days intended to allow competitors to sample the venue but also for the circuit to experience running with multiple World RX cars ahead of the event in October. "We wanted to try the track before we come here with the World Championship, said Timmy Hansen, who drove a Team Peugeot-Hansen Peugeot 208 on both days.

He added: "Developing a rallycross car is a constant process, so we worked on the car specifically for this track and the rest of the season too. The track is really good, it has a good flow. You need to be brave to be fast here. There were a lot of people coming to watch the test, so I think there will be a really good crowd for the race."

World RX teams present on the test day included Peugeot-Hansen, Munnich Motorsport and Olsbergs MSE. "It's a brand new track and you want to be as well prepared as possible, so we were keen to test," said Olsbergs MSE driver, Kevin Eriksson. "I wanted to learn the track to be as quick as possible at the race. The level is so tough now in World RX, so we wanted to try some different stuff and to try optimise the car for (the event in) October. I really like the track, you never have a calm moment, there is always something happening. The final corner is very tricky too, I like that!"

Euro RX competitors to sample the new circuit included Alexander Hvaal, Mats Ohman, Derek Tohill and Martin Kaczmarski. RX Lites Cup racers Thomas Bryntesson, Sondre Evjen and Joachim Hvaal also took part, as did Vassily Gryazin.

Zdroj: fiaworldrallycross.com