Mikko Heikkilä is competing in the Tet Rally Liepaja in the upcoming weekend. The fifth round of European Rally Championship ERC is Heikkilä’s career second ERC rally. Heikkilä is aiming for the best possible result from Latvia’s fast gravel stages.
Mikko Heikkilä, 30, along with his co-driver Samu Vaaleri, 24, are competing in the Tet Rally Liepaja driven in the upcoming weekend. Driven as part of the ERC, Tet Rally Liepaja is Heikkilä’s second ERC event to date. Heikkilä’s ERC debut was two years ago, also in Rally Liepaja.
-It’s nice to attend an international event of which I have a bit of experience already. Last time we were on pace from the start, but we had to slow down due to my co-driver at the time Henri Arpiainen hurting his back after a particularly rough landing following a jump.
Heikkilä’s goal for the upcoming weekend is to challenge the best of ERC.
-Our aim is definitely on the higher end of the standings. It’s hard to set a specific position as a goal at this time as we don’t have anything to compare our current pace with the drivers of ERC. We’ll push for a best possible rally.
The Latvian roads near Liepaja are reasonably familiar to Heikkilä. This year’s Rally Liepaja route uses parts of the stages from 2020, but there’s a lot of completely new special stages for Heikkilä.
-The stages here are blisteringly fast and there aren’t many elevation changes. Straights are long, but of course these are separated by tighter and more technical parts that keep the average speeds in check. In comparison to the stages in the last FRC event in Seinäjoki, it’s going to be faster here.
Heikkilä’s preparations for the Rally Liepaja start properly on Wednesday with testing.
-We’ll drive some test to get to grips with the local roads near Jurmala on Wednesday. The recce has been divided into two days, Thursday and Friday, and Friday also consists of shakedown and qualifying. I’m eagerly waiting for the weekend. It’s nice to be back in Latvia.
Tet Rally Liepaja is held in Liepaja, Latvia from 1st to 3rd of July. The event can be followed via WRC+ service. The event consists of 12 special stages and 181,28 special stage kilometres.
Tet Rally Liepaja Schedule
Friday 1.7. – 3,77 km
| 15:00 | Shakedown – Liepieni | 3,77 km |
| 17:15 | Qualifying stage – Liepieni | 3,77 km |
Saturday 2.7. – 85,94 km
| 10:15 | Ceremonial Start | Talsi City |
| 10:35 | SS1 – Strazde 1 | 9,40 km |
| 11:25 | SS2 – Mundigciems 1 | 14,87 km |
| 12:15 | SS3 – Kâkïsi 1 | 18,70 km |
| 14:30 | SS4 – Strazde 2 | 9,40 km |
| 15:20 | SS5 – Mundigciems 2 | 14,87 km |
| 16:10 | SS6 – Kâkïsi 2 | 18,70 km |
Sunday 3.7. – 95,34 km
| 09:00 | SS7 – Vecpils 1 | 20,23 km |
| 09:50 | SS8 – Dinsdurbe | 6,42 km |
| 10:50 | SS9 – Vecpils 2 | 20,23 km |
| 14:08 | SS10 – Tebra 1 | 18,71 km |
| 15:00 | SS11 – Podnieki | 11,04 km |
| 17:08 | SS12 – Liepaja – Power Stage | 18,71 km |
| 19:15 | Finish | Liepaja |
Words: Juho Koski / Mikko Heikkilä Racing -communications
Photo: Henri Vuorinen