The race through forest – Baltic Touring Car Championship round 2!
After exciting battles during opening round of Baltic Touring Car Championship , it’s time to meet the challenging corners of Bikernieki race track once again in the Round 2 – Stateta Bro | Pro Bro Grand Prix, and no doubt it is going to be a thriller!
Thursday June 4 is the day for testing during all day, while on Friday the testing continues in the morning while evening part is when it gets more serious – the Qualifying sessions to determine the grids for the Race day – Saturday, where racing will start from 10.00 and will not stop until 20 in the evening with various elements throughout the day.
The notorious BMW 325 CUP did not disappoint in Riga, with champion Ragnar Simuland being in other series, the crown is vacant and up for grabs for everyone. The legendary Latvian racer Janis Horeliks used his home track advantage perfectly winning first Riga event (his first BMW 325 CUP win ever) and is leading the standings for now, chased by Polish legend, 2025 BaTCC BMW 325 CUP Masters champion, Karol Wyka with 86 points. Third place man Dmitrijs Gornevs is eager to continue his performance and wants to be a regular on the podium. Watch out for Matiss Malinovskis who won the Race 1, but technical problems of the car meant DNF in race 2.
10 cars entered the event, 9 finished in the BMW Turbo Cup, where several new cars have been built during the winter and the field is as tight as ever, with every single error becoming crucial. It wasn’t easy but Artjoms Koclamazasvili did a successful first step to defend his 2025 championship, narrowly beating his long-time BMW 325 CUP rival and multiple BTC class champ Aurimas Mistautas from LIK Racing by KTK Racing division. Third place went to newcomer Mantas Silkunas, but the racing was so close it is really hard to predict next ones. The man to watch? Patriks Noels Locmelis from Rode Racing. You will see.
GT racing, we await round 2 of the epic battle between two Lambo’s – Arturs Batraks vs Egidijus Gelunas. The first duel did not go in hands of the hometown hero, but he is ready to strike back and take the first place in the Riga race, the battle through forest will go on in the BGT PRO class. BGT AM+ class was dominated by Romet Reisin from Estonia with his Porsche Cayman GT4 RS. But BGT AM class had proper battles of very different machinery. Paulius Urbonavicius was the fastest one and no doubt will try do that again very soon, chased by Rokas Kvedaras and Lukas Samulionis, but watch out from Jyrki Jonkkari, the Finnish ace.
The V1600 class is going uphill in the number of participants, with 12 cars and a new record of that in the Baltics in the first round, and most likely this number will be beaten at the Stateta Bro | Pro Bro Grand Prix 2026 with some new and not that new drivers joining in. Mareks Matvejevs was unstoppable in 2025, and he keeps his form as high also in 2026, two dominant wins means first place in the standings. Nauris Agafonovs is eager to change that, and he needs only little to challenge Matvejevs on the track and then we could see sparks flying. The former ABC Race class driver Andris Misins got himself quite comfortably in the V1600 class Toyota Yaris and managed to get third place in his debut race, while 4th place was decided by two Honda Civic drivers – Ruudi Reinumagi from Estonia and Kaspars Rudmiezis from Latvia.
Although only four cars entered in the ABC Race class, it was not boring at all, both races from start till finish. The most experienced ABC race driver Roberts Ozolins managed to take two victories by very small margins, followed by a rookie Agnis Rozitis and Arturs Locs. We are ready for yet another show ride of those drivers!
Not that a big field was featured in the round 1, but some more drivers are joining in for the next one – expect back the legends of the Baltic Touring Cars – Andrius Keblys, Tadas Petukauskas and Atis Veismanis showing their skill around the race track, chasing the current leaders – Sven Karuse from Estonia in BTC3, Agnius Narbutas in the BTC2 and Marta Starka in the BTC3 light. While in Group H for Historic cars the duel between Vilnis Batraks and Maris Bulans will continue. Will see how that turns out.
In the 2h endurance 25-30 teams are expected to participate, with proper factory-built machinery in the Hankook Endurance Challenge where the duel of Lambos will be decided in the BGT PRO class. Eagle racing from Finland won the BGT AM class and are returning to Riga with the same target. While BGT AM+ class winners PI Rent by Baltic Karting Academy will once again try to stop the Latvian team of Porsche Latvia Racing Team.
8 teams raced in the BMW 325 CUP category and they all finished with Ibiza Racing team taking the win, followed by Daugavins Racing and Agentus 325 CUP. All of them are expected to return for this round. Also nice battles are expected in BTC3 class with 6-9 teams racing and in the BMW Turbo Cup.
Besides the racing the annual Motorsports Expo will take place on the other side of the Start/Finish straight, during the lunch break we will see a retro motorcycles race, honoring the 60 years of Bikernieki race track.
See you there!
