Ivars Vasaraudzis/Jānis Krastiņš. Photo: Raimonds Volonts
Experienced rally driver Ivars Vasarudzis, who together with Jānis Krastiņas, confirmed their participation in the Lithuanian winter sprint rally “Aukštaitija” (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Ivars finished his active rallying in 2011, but Vasaraudzi has rarely started in individual rallies. Last autumn he took part in the “Latvija” sprint rally with the Škoda Fabia SRT Proto car, where after five laps he took third place, but at the end of the rally he got a puncture and lost a lot of ground. time.
To find out what inspired Ivar to return to the winter gathering, we’ll talk about it in this conversation.
Ivar, the “Alūksne” demonstration ended on Saturday. Did anything surprise you when looking at the results?
More or less, but it’s all natural. Good for Emil Blum, who raced at his level and managed to maintain the pace achieved last year. Perhaps it was a surprise that Preet Koik wasn’t that fast. Pleasantly surprised was the Estonian Romets Jurgensons, who showed competitive times with the all-wheel drive “Ford Fiesta Rally3” car and managed to finish in 4th place.
Photo: Raimonds Volonts
As far as I heard from other athletes, the car “Ford Fiesta Rally3” was suitable for such working roads.
Yes, the Ford Fiesta Rally3 is lighter than the Mitsubishi Lancer, which is heavier. Two years ago I had the opportunity to drive a Ford Fiesta Rally3 in winter and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by this car. A really great AWD car, very easy to drive. This car is really a good solution for local championships. Yes, this car is a little more expensive than the Mitsubishi Lancer, but at the same time it is a decent sports car. Yes, “Mitsubishi” and “Subaru” are also sports cars, but unfortunately they are already history. But I really liked driving the “Ford Fiesta Rally3” – sequential gearbox, all-wheel drive. Yes, it’s not that powerful, but some Estonian drivers have proven that they can drive as fast as Emil, Martin Samsonas. If there was a rally with longer straights, obviously the Mitsubishi would be even faster, but both cars were quite equal in such working sections.
Please tell us about your candidacy for the Lithuanian winter rally Aukštaitija. What inspired you to return to the gathering?
Jānis Krastiņu and I talk from time to time about whether we should drive something. First of all Jānis, with the help of his friends, gave me a gift: to start with a Škoda Fabia R5 Proto in a sprint rally in Latvia, so I wouldn’t fall asleep (laughs). During the summer, when a six-hour endurance race was held in Biķernieki, Jānis bought a new suit and I realized that the soap was growing (laughs). If you buy such a suit, you will definitely not keep it in your closet. Here is the result too. Thanks to Jānis and his student Ilyas Zakmanis for lending me the car “Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Vasaraudzi/Krastiņš will take to the track with such a car. Photo: Raimonds Volonts
As far as I know, the last time you participated in a winter rally was in 2011.
Yes, it happens. The last time I drove in winter in rally mode was 13 years ago.
What tests do you have planned before the rally?
I recently spoke with Jānis, where I asked: what are we doing? Let’s do some winter testing or take everyone to cool off (laughs). For both of them, this freshness is at least 13 years old, and Jānis also last read the transcript at a demonstration several years ago. Therefore, it will probably be necessary to organize some small tests, because it would be a great adventure to go to the rally without tests. This is already a great adventure, but starting a winter rally completely unprepared would be an even greater adventure.
What is your relationship with winter rallies?
I’ve always liked winter rallies. Winter taught me how to drive, so if I said I didn’t like driving in winter, I’d be lying. When conditions are perfect, winter driving is a lot of fun.
Photo: Janis Asaris
Is there a one-off rally planned at the moment or is there a chance we will see you in another rally? For example, in the Sarma demonstration?
(laughs) No, no, no, no, no. Even if I say no now, anything can happen in life. If I find a suitcase with some money, then never say never and maybe we will have another rally, but for now a one-off event is planned. We already wanted to hide and go along the calm edge of the sprint of the Lithuanian rally, but it turns out that we were quickly deciphered (laughs). We couldn’t hide.
Have you managed to travel with Jānis so far?
A long, long time ago, during one of the tests in Finland, he helped me and sat next to me. His reading comprehension is good, so I think there will be no problem. I should rather think about how I will cope after such a long break. Yes, we went to Biķernieki in the autumn, but that’s something else. Driving it in the forest will be very different. It will be necessary to refresh your memory of all the nuances necessary to make an accurate transcription. But the most important thing will be to enjoy the event, capture some sensations and then just ride. As long as we can still see the road, we have to drive in the meantime (laughs).
Photo: Raimonds Volonts
Approximately 15 crews plan to compete in your class. It will be interesting to see for yourself how fast you are compared to other drivers who drive regularly.
Obviously. It will be interesting for both me and others to see how fast we can go without actively driving for several years. The important thing is not to drive so slowly that spectators can read who is driving that car (laughs). But it’ll be fine. The main thing is to have suitable conditions for winter rallying.
2024-01-21 22:35:06
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