The first starting number was assigned to the current leaders of the Lithuanian Automobile Rally Championship, Vaidotas Žala and Ugnius Vainevičius. The “NØRDIS Team” crew with the “Škoda Fabia RS Rally2” has won all three LARČ2 classification stages held so far this season and arrives in Rokiškis as one of the main contenders for victory.
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The second starting number was given to another “NØRDIS Team” crew – Deividas Gezevičius and Evaldas Kvederis with the “Škoda Fabia RS Rally2”. After the first three stages of the Lithuanian championship, they are in second place in the LARČ2 classification and remain the closest pursuers of V. Žala and U. Vainevičius.
The third starting number was assigned to Rokas Steponavičius and Dovydas Ketvirtis. The “Jusema by GSR Motorsport” crew with the “Škoda Fabia Evo” is also among the leaders of this season’s Lithuanian championship and holds third place in the LARČ2 classification before the Rokiškis stage.
The fourth number is marked for one of the strongest foreign crews arriving in Rokiškis – Poles Aronas Domżała and Michałas Kuśnierzas with the “Škoda Fabia R5 Evo”. A. Domżała is already well known to Lithuanian rally fans this season – after three stages, he is fourth in the LARČ2 classification.
The fifth starting number went to Giedrius Firantas and Matas Valiulis with the “Škoda Fabia R5”. This crew also constantly ranks among the LARČ2 leaders and holds fifth position in their class before the fourth stage of the season.
Further in the top ten starting numbers – even more international intrigue. The sixth number was given to Polish representatives Pawełas Ważny and Łukaszas Jastrzębskis with the “Škoda Fabia RS Rally2”, and the seventh number was assigned to Aras Kvedaras and Karolis Gedgaudas, who will drive the “Škoda Fabia Evo”.
The eighth number is marked for another Polish crew – Piotras Krotoszyńskis and Marcin Szeja with the “Škoda Fabia RS Rally2”.
The top ten is completed by two crews that further diversify the composition of the strongest participants. The ninth number was given to LARČ3 classification starters Petras Šiaučiūnas and Žilvinas Juršys with the “Škoda Fabia R4”, and the tenth number was assigned to guests from the Czech Republic David Tomek and Roman Svec, driving the “Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo”.
So the first ten starting numbers went to seven Lithuanian, two Polish, and one Czech crew. Among them, Škoda brand technology dominates, but the starting numbers alone do not yet determine the order in which the strongest athletes will appear in the first special stages.
Before the main rally battle begins, the highest-ranked participants will have to complete a qualifying special stage. Its results will be important in deciding the starting positions – crews that perform fastest in the qualification will gain the priority right to choose the most favorable position for them. Therefore, only after the qualification will it be finally clear from which positions the main favorites will start the battle in the Rokiškis special stages. The official starting order of all participants before the competition will be announced in a separate document.
Choosing starting positions in gravel rally can become an important tactical part of the competition. Crews have to assess the road surface condition, weather conditions, and the so-called road cleaning effect, so the opportunity to choose their starting place earlier, won in the qualification, can provide an important advantage.
This year, the “Rokiškio Grand Rally” participant list includes not only the strongest Lithuanian athletes. Crews from Poland, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Ukraine, the USA, and Monaco are coming to Rokiškis. The international composition once again confirms the high level of the jubilee competition.
Huge intrigue awaits in other classes as well. In the M series BMW cars, Andrejus Apočkinas, Giedrius Notkus, Darius Sukackas, Saulius Trapuila, Nedas Radišauskas, Gytis Stalerūnas, and guest from Estonia Markus Tammoja will compete for victories.
The BMW Cup classification promises to be no less interesting, where Ovidijus Vaštakas, Andrius Grigaitis, Mantas Garbuzas, Tadas Pupeikis, Marius Kemešys, Adomas Kepalas, and Majus Braškys will compete for the top positions.
Fans of four-wheel-drive cars will also have their favorites. Besides a large “Rally2” technology group, “Rally3”, “Rally4”, N5, PROTO LT, historic cars, and other Lithuanian automobile rally championship classification participants will start, so there will be no shortage of battles throughout the participant list.
In total, the jubilee “Rokiškio Grand Rally” participants will face 17 special stages, with a total length of 134 kilometers. The competition, taking place from August 13–15, will simultaneously be a stage of the Lithuanian Automobile Rally Championship, FIA European Rally Trophy, “Tour European Rally” (TER) championship, and Lithuanian “Rally4 Trophy”.
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