Arturs Šimins, co-driver to Ralfs Sirmacis, says the pair intend to fight for an FIA European Rally Championship podium on this week’s Barum Czech Rally Zlín and capitalise on their ERC Junior experience from last year against the tough competition.
The young Latvian duo have added the asphalt event to their previously all-gravel 2016 campaign, with Sirmacis having won two out of the three rounds he has started so far in his Sports Racing Technologies-run, ŠKODA Baltic Motorsport-supported Fabia R5. Zlín will be their first Tarmac rally in the car, but they did compete on the event 12 months ago, finishing second in ERC Junior.
“Czech rally is difficult both technically and in terms of competition,” said Šimins, who will be returning to ERC action having missed out on Sirmacis’ win in Estonia due to a fever.
“There will be a lot of very strong Czech rally crews that will compete with the ŠKODA Fabia R5, which is currently the most competitive machine in the European Rally Championship.
“Last year, when we participated in this rally, we finished in second place in the ERC Junior Championship and won the vice-champion title. Asphalt has not been our strong point, but last year has given us much experience. Also we have had tests on the asphalt Bikernieku track [in Latvia].
“We are going to the Czech Republic to fight for the podium. It will be more difficult than on other occasions, but we believe that we can.”