New speed sections are more interesting, familiar ones – faster
In fact, most of the long-standing stages of the Lithuanian rally championship use the same speed sections, which experienced athletes seem to be able to drive even without a pace note, although it is a key part of rallying.
Read more Two days after the brother’s funeral – Princess Astrid, sister of King Harald V of Norway, died
“From a sporting point of view, of course, new speed sections are desired because the sporting spirit of rally is created by the driver and co-driver, who are connected by the pace note. In new, untraveled sections, more emphasis is placed on the pace note. On the other hand, in old speed sections, the driver can ‘have fun’, let the car run wider, and for spectators this is definitely an advantage because in classic speed sections drivers create more speed, the right foot does not tremble,” said Vadotas Žala, the leader in the rally championship.
Speed sections are decreasing
Rally in the surroundings of Elektrėnai has been held in Lithuania probably the longest, almost without any breaks, for more than half a century. Here took place the Kaunas autumn and Vilnius rallies, and 12 years ago Ramūnas Čapkauskas brought the event to its rightful hosts – Elektrėnai.
“The specificity of rally is such that it is impossible to make rallies where all speed sections are new. Suitable roads are decreasing, homesteads are increasing, it is getting harder to negotiate with them, so we have to be happy with what we have, and what we have in Elektrėnai is unreal, some of the best sections in Lithuania. We can look for new kilometers, but they will be boring, straight with intersections. Is it worth replacing the best speed sections with boring ones?” said Ramūnas Čapkauskas, organizer of “Rally Elektrėnai.”
“In the World Rally Championship, drivers also run the same speed sections every year, no need to look far: Sweden, Finland, there 80% of the speed sections repeat every year, they just turn them one way or another, connect separate segments differently,” shared Vytautas Švedas, returning to Elektrėnai.
It’s impossible to remember everything, but you can drive faster
The same tactic is used in Lithuanian rallies: the same road sections are driven, but speed sections are changed every year or every few years by changing their direction. Also, there are many tracks with impressive relief around Elektrėnai, so they rotate.
“And it gives results, driving in the opposite direction the speed section differs radically, you may remember the turn, but the trajectory, braking and acceleration points will be completely different,” added V. Švedas.
“Well, and Elektrėnai finds interesting tracks. It seems to me that the speed section that appeared two years ago in the Kaišiadorys district is really fantastic: a twist of the wheel through the woods,” described V. Žala the 5-7 speed sections in this year’s rally.
For example, this year the speed section around Pikeliškės returns, there will be the first spectator zone, and in it – a new challenge for drivers: instead of the previous three jumps – a leveled road, a long straight to a sharp turn, behind which is a ditch, and a few more turns. No one has driven here yet.
“From a racer’s side, who missed the Elektrėnai rally for 3 years in a row, I know that competitors will be able to drive faster, and I will have to try hard to match them. On the other hand, from the spectator’s side, it will be fun, because when speed sections are somewhat known, the pace note becomes secondary, and fast driving comes to the forefront.
Those speed sections where the foot no longer trembles, when you know, remember what dangers may lurk from the hill, can create much more speed, and that is a big advantage for spectators,” said Justas Simaška, who returned to Elektrėnai.
Read more Donald Trump: The US will never forget September 11
