However, the start of the weekend was very challenging for Rytis Gurklys. Already during the first qualifying run, he got into an incident that not only cost him precious seconds but also pushed him to the middle of the results table.
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“In the first qualifying, I came into a turn that is on a hill, and behind the hill on the track was a stopped competitor. The judges had not yet shown any yellow flags, so I did not expect to find an obstacle there. I arrived very fast and, reaching the top of the hill, I saw that below, on the trajectory, there was a car standing.
The speed was really high, so I had no way to avoid the collision and I hit the competitor. Luckily, the impact was not with the front but the side – I managed to avoid the greatest possible damage to the car, because if I had hit with the front, my race would probably have ended there. Of course, I lost a lot of time there, slightly damaged the car, and showed only the ninth time in the class,” said Rytis Gurklys.
After the unsuccessful start, the young racer was forced to chase the competitors. However, in later runs, he demonstrated one of the best paces in the RX3 class and steadily improved his positions in the class standings.
“In the other qualifiers, I had to put in all efforts to improve my position in the lineup. I was second in the second qualifier, also second in the third. I managed to win the fourth qualifier. Before the semifinals, I was classified in second place and then I won my semifinal,” said the young man from Jurbarkas.
In the decisive race, the Lithuanian fought for a place on the podium. Although this time the competitor ahead was unreachable, Rytis Gurklys maintained a steady pace and confidently held the second position until the finish.
“In the final, I had the second starting position. The start went well, but my position was on the outside, I had no choices. After the start, I secured second place. Maybe I lacked a bit of speed, pace, but I think I did almost everything I could. I am satisfied because I did not make a single big mistake in the final, I did not mess up in a way that would have cost positions. The Frenchman was just very fast and I could not find a way to overtake him,” said Rytis Gurklys.
The silver medal allowed the man from Jurbarkas to keep second place in the overall European Championship standings. Also second, right behind the same Frenchman, Rytis Gurklys finished the first stage in Latvia. Although the class leader’s advantage increased slightly after this stage, the majority of the season still lies ahead, so the young Lithuanian does not give up.
“After this stage, I am second in the annual standings. Ahead is the same Frenchman, but now not by seven points, but fourteen. But there are still five stages left. The season is still long. Of course, one mistake, one wall and your result is gone, so everything is ahead. I am glad that after falling to ninth place in the first qualifier, I managed to rehabilitate and finish second,” said Rytis Gurklys.
The third stage of the European Rallycross Championship will take place in Sweden. Rytis Gurklys will fight for points and positions in the RX3 class there on July 4–5.
More information about Rytis Gurklys’s season can be found on the team’s Facebook page.
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