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Latvian ERC crew back to the Circuit to learn ahead of R5 step

Last year's ERC Junior runner-up Ralfs Sirmacis and co-driver Arturs Šimins won't be competing on the Circuit of Ireland this week, but will be in attendance as they prepare for their step up to the top class of the FIA European Rally Championship.

Latvian Sirmacis, 21, will drive a ŠKODA Fabia R5 on gravel rounds this year but is making the trip to Northern Ireland together with his navigator in order to build his experience of asphalt rallying. His Sports Racing Technologies team are running another Fabia for Raul Jeets on the event as well as a Peugeot 208 R2 for ERC Junior contender Nikolay Gryazin.

Sirmacis finished sixth in ERC Junior on the Circuit of Ireland last year, a result Šimins describes as "average", citing a lack of asphalt experience. He said: "The results were far from ideal and the race did not go well. It is one of the most complicated and narrowest asphalt rallies in the ERC.

"A review of the onboards together with our coaches allowed us to analyse our mistakes, and we came to the conclusion that we definitely must return to Ireland. Although we plan on participating on gravel this season, we will go to Ireland for training purposes in order to accumulate experience on asphalt. A perfect preparation is the required prerequisite for a good start. Any training session is very valuable."

Zdroj: fiaerc.com