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16-07-2012 08:47
auto24 Rally Estonia will be the first outing for Group B Lancia 037 in Estonia
This years auto24 Rally Estonia is hosting a round of FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship. This is also the first time when Estonia is hosting round of European Championship in rally. Having this great event in Estonia rallyfans from Baltics and elsewhere can see piece of history of rally racing in Otepää on 20-21th of July.
There is something in Historic cars what enchantes even drivers from WRC to compete with those cars. So has Ford factory driver Jari-Matti Latvala won Lahti Historic Rally twice with Ford Escort RS BDA and with the same car will he also compete in auto24 Rally Estonia Historic.
Hot topic in discussions before rally is ofcourse the legendary Lancia 037 from Group B era. Responsible for bringing this mid-engine beast to Estonia is multiple times European Champion Valter Jensen from Norway. He is currently second in Cat 4 in FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship. Two European champions from last year are also competing in auto24 Rally Estonia Historic, Miroslav Janota from Czech Republik (Opel Cadett C GT/E) and Enrico Brazzoli from Italy (Porsche 911 RS). This year we can confirm that top drivers from Historic series are coming to Estonia. Category 1 leader Antonio Parisi from Italy (Fiat 2300 S Coupe), Category 2 leader Mats Myrsell from Sweden (Porsche 911), second in same category, brother of Carlos Sainz Antonio Sainz (Ford Escort MK1) and earlier mentioned Mirosla Janota holding third place in Cat 2. Also Enrico Brazzoli is competing in same category holding fifth place in the series. And Grand Old Man in Estonian autosport, Villu Mättik (Lada 2101) is competing in the same category holding currently eight place in championship.
auto 24 Rally Estonia 2012 is held on 20-21th of July. It is the round of Estonian, Latvian, Baltic and NEZ Rally Championships and for the first time a round of FIA Historic European Sporting Rally Championship.
More information: www.rallyestonia.ee
Margus Kiiver, auto24 Rally Estonia 2012 Press Officer