As joke, we can say that Rally Sarma 2019 will run under "3G" sign because the surnames of three potential leaders start with the G letter. About readiness to start in Rally Sarma 2019 organizers informed crew with fastest rally car in Baltic – Estonians Georg Gross and Raigo Molder with Ford Fiesta WRC. Ukrainians Valery Gorban and Sergey Larens with Mini John Cooper Works WRC approved plan to start in this rally. First crew who informed about plan to compete in Rally Sarma 2019 was Sports Racing Technologies team’s crew Nikolay Gryazin / Yaroslav Fedorov who won Rally Sarma 2018 with Škoda Fabia R5. It should be noted that Georg Gross and Nikolay Gryazin each has one winner’s cup of Rally Sarma.

Poland's vice-champions of Open N class Lukasz and Tomasz Kotarba have also announced their planned debut in Latvia and in the Rally Sarma, which will be the first rally in Latvia and first winter rally for them. It also will be second rally with N group Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X RS what was prepared specially for start in FIA ERC races one year ago. Last year duo participating in week long trainings with rally star of seventies and eighties John Haugland in Norway where 800 km was done on ice and snow. Polish crew will participate in tests on ice and snow next week as well. Meanwhile Lukasz Kotarba admits that it is still little to start at the full speed in Rally Sarma 2019.

Organizer of Rally Sarma 2019 after regular check of special stages made a conclusion that roads are ready for rally already. They are covered with thick layer of ice and snow. Long term weather forecast promise heavy snowfall and some thaws what will grow snowbanks and ice cover till the start of rally.

Like the previous two years, the opening of the rally at the Gulbene centre will take place on the night of February 8, at 19:00, and the first special stage will start at 10:00 A.M. on February 9. Expected that the final stage will end at around 18:30, followed by an award ceremony at 20:15 in the Gulbene Culture Centre.

Information about accommodations possible to find in tourism information webpage www.visitgulbene.lv. Follow to the news of Rally Sarma on Facebook and Twitter, while the rally guide and other official information can be found in webpage of Latvian Rally championship www.autorally.lv.

Ģirts Avotiņš, Rally Sarma media officer. Photo: Arturs Igaveņš (ASRT Media)