The service zone during the rally becomes a kind of city within a city. Technical service cars of the teams lined up in Independence Square, tents were erected, and warehouses for tools, spare parts, and tires appeared. While the crews compete in the speed sections, mechanics await them here, who have to perform all the necessary work within a limited time between the separate rally sections.
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For spectators, this is also an opportunity to see the other side of the rally up close. The final result of the team’s work is visible in the speed sections, while in the service park you can observe how many people and how much work is needed to prepare a sports car for the next speed section after one portion of speed sections.
Each “Rokiškis Grand Rally” crew is allocated 60 square meters in the service park. Under the sports car, it is mandatory to lay a liquid-impermeable mat of at least 3×5 meters, and after the competition, teams must leave their places tidy and take care of the waste and liquids generated.
It is precisely the service park that is one of the most important places when talking about the impact of modern motorsport on the environment. For several years now, the partner of “Rokiškis Grand Rally,” the Association of Car Manufacturers and Importers (AGIA), has been setting up a special automotive waste collection site here. Team mechanics can safely leave used oil, oil and air filters, cooling and brake fluids, batteries, tires, and other waste generated during car operation. Later, these are handed over to authorized waste managers and properly processed.
According to AGIA director Rita Zdanevičienė, the rally is a suitable place to show that high speed and a responsible attitude towards the environment do not contradict each other.
“Vehicles inevitably create waste, but each of us can contribute to ensuring it is properly managed. The rally is a great opportunity to set a good example – professional teams responsibly manage automotive waste, and we hope that this approach will become common practice for every car owner,” says R. Zdanevičienė.
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This year, even more attention is paid to environmental protection at the rally. FIA requirements cover all parts of the competition, with the greatest focus in the service park on waste sorting and hazardous material management.
“In motorsport, technical maintenance is ongoing, so responsible automotive waste management is an important part of every competition. We are glad that AGIA helps ensure this and also contributes to educating spectators. Such initiatives create additional value for our event and encourage a responsible attitude towards the environment,” says “Rokiškis Grand Rally” organizer Audrius Gimžauskas.
On Friday afternoon, the service zone turned from a preparation area into a true rally logistics center. One after another, sports cars moved out from Independence Square – the entire “Rokiškis Grand Rally” participant caravan set off for the first day’s speed sections, which they will complete after the rally safety cars “Dacia” pass through the speed sections.
On Friday, crews face six speed sections with a total length of 32.37 kilometers. After completing the individual sections, the athletes will return to the service in Independence Square, where the cars will again be taken over by mechanics. This rhythm will continue on Saturday – while the athletes compete on the roads of the Rokiškis region, in the city center, the work of the teams and their mechanics will be just as intense for two days.
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