Rally Talsi will be using a feature seen in both the World (WRC) and European (ERC) championship gravel events, organising a qualifying stage for the priority crews, which will be followed by selection of starting positions. The qualifying stage will take place on Friday, May 20, and, according to the provisional starting order, twenty highest ranked all-wheel drive crews will take part.

Honouring the long history of Rally Talsi, with the first event in 1966 having fourteen crews taking part, the fourteen fastest crews on the qualifying stage will be able to choose their start position, with the fastest choosing first. Selection of start positions will take place during the Rally Talsi opening ceremony on Saturday, May 21.

“When organising events, we always try to think of something new, to take a step forward and make an even better event for both participants and spectators. To commemorate the 50 year anniversary of Rally Talsi, we have included a qualifying stage, which you very rarely see in the Baltic rally events, but which adds a special flavour to the event – the top-seeded crews will truly have a fantastic three day long anniversary rally!

Our experience in organising the European Rally Championship round Rally Liepāja shows that the selection of start positions is always an exciting and intriguing process, attended by a lot of media and competitors. For this reason, I am very happy that this selection will take place during the Rally Talsi opening ceremony, making it a thrilling event that can also be followed by all the spectators in attendance!

I would also like to remind you that the Rally Talsi opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the pre-start area for both rally and historic youngtimer cars will be located next to the Talsi region local government administrative centre. See you soon in Talsi for the 50 year anniversary rally!” RA Events director Raimonds Strokšs.

Rally Talsi competitors should note that the supplementary regulations have been published today, and registration for the event is now open, concluding on May 12. In addition to that, we would like to mention that the Forbidden Area rules are in effect until the beginning of the rally, and that competitors can only enter this area with a special permission from the organiser RA EVENTS.

Rally passes to Rally Talsi are also available, at a price of 12.00 EUR if bought on or before May 15, and increasing to 15.00 EUR from May 16 up to the running of the event. Spectators who buy a rally pass to attend all the special stages will also receive a commemorative souvenir – a lanyard with the Rally Talsi 50 year anniversary logo! Those with the Rally Talsi rally pass will also receive a 50% discount for a ticket to the entertainment agency Akcents organized Rally Talsi Party, which will take place at the Sauleskalns bandstand on Saturday, May 21, starting from 22:00.

More information about Rally Talsi: www.rallytalsi.lv, and http://autorally.lv. In addition to that, news and other information about Rally Talsi is available on social media Twitter @RallyTalsi, Facebook /RallyTalsi, Draugiem.lv /RallyTalsi, and YouTube /RallyTalsi.

Rally Talsi would not be possible without our supporters, so we would like to thank the rally city of nine hillocks – Talsi, sponsors Neste and Talce / SC Grupa, as well as Nissan Norde, who provide the official car of Rally Talsi. We would also like to thank our supporters – Canon IB Serviss, Krauzers, Lakalme, Ramirent, and Swecon. Thanks to our media partners Delfi, Kurzemes Radio, Go4Speed, Talsu Vēstis, FHM, Zebra, Talsu Televīzija and What Car?, for informative support. The event would also not be possible without our rally friends – Alfa SLS, Dardedze Hologrāfija, ecoRent, FN Serviss, Niedrāji MR, Red Bull, RMS Group, Skrīveru Saldumi, Torley, Venden, and the Latvian Automobile Federation.

Jānis Unbedahts, Media officer, RA EVENTS. Photo: JZPRO