STATETA BRO PRO BRO Grand Prix in Riga Delivers Drama, Crashes and Changes at the Top
The second round of the Baltic Circuit Racing Championship and the entire STATETA BRO PRO BRO Grand Prix weekend in Riga left no one bored – neither the drivers battling on track nor the spectators watching from the sidelines. Unexpected crashes on the straights, wheel-to-wheel contact, technical failures at the start and uncompromising battles for every position – this time, Bikernieki Circuit delivered everything motorsport fans could ask for.
The Weekend Started Off-Plan
Although the rain clouds that appeared during Friday qualifying did not initially cause major issues, the situation became more complicated later in the evening when oil was spilled on the circuit. Combined with the rain, it spread across a larger section of the track, forcing organizers to adjust the schedule and move the BMW Turbo Cup and Baltic GT qualifying sessions to Saturday morning.
Those sessions kicked off an intense race day, while the opening sprint battles were provided by the traditionally action-packed V1600 and ABC Race classes. No fewer than 16 cars on the starting grid – one of the largest sprint field of the weekend.
In V1600, Mareks Matvejevs dominated both races, further strengthening his position at the top of the championship standings. Nauris Agafonovs finished second, while Kaspars Rudmiezis moved ahead of Ruudi Reinumagi in the overall standings. However, the battle for third place remains extremely close, with just two points separating the rivals.
In the ABC Race category, Roberts Ozolins retained his championship lead. Not only did he take victory in Riga, but he also maintained first place in the overall standings. Although Viesturs Ozols showed impressive pace and finished second, it was not enough to break into the championship top three. Third-placed Agnis Rozitis held on to second position in the season rankings.
Drama, however, spared no one – even the frontrunners. Several drivers received penalties for speeding under double yellow flags, including Roberts Ozolins.
BMW 325 CUP: From the Podium to a Breakdown on the Starting Straight
After the smaller classes, the BMW 325 Cup competitors took to the track and once again proved why the series is considered one of the most competitive in the Baltics. The first race was won by Matiss Malinovskis, with Darius Gaidulionis finishing second and Laimonas Starkevičius taking third. However, Gaidulionis’ second race ended before it had even begun – a differential failure left his car stranded on the starting straight.
“Life happened,” the driver briefly summed up after the race.
Malinovskis went on to secure another victory in Race 2, while championship leader Janis Horeliks suffered a disappointing weekend after being disqualified due to a technical regulations infringement.
Lithuanian Drivers Take Control in Baltic GT
As expected, the biggest spotlight fell on the powerful machinery of the Baltic GT category.
In BGT PRO, Latvian driver Arturs Batraks claimed victory in both sprint races with his Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO. However, Lithuania’s Egidijus Gelūnas consistently finished second and collected enough points to move into the championship lead after two rounds. He now has 61 points, while Batraks sits second with 50.
In BGT AM+, Audrius Piktys became the new championship leader. Although Martins Lukstins won both sprint races, two second-place finishes allowed the Lithuanian driver to accumulate 72 points and move to the top of the standings.
Meanwhile, Paulius Urbonavičius was unbeatable in the BGT AM category. Driving a Ginetta G55 GT4, he won both races of the weekend and established himself as the clear championship leader. Aivaras Remeika finished second in class, while Vidas Samuolis claimed third.
BMW Turbo Cup Has a New Championship Leader
The BMW Turbo Cup also delivered its share of excitement. While the grid was not among the largest of the weekend, the intensity of the racing matched that of any headline category.
One of the standout battles featured Artjoms Koclamazasvili and Aurimas Mištautas. Following a race-winning performance, Mištautas not only secured victory in Riga but also moved into the championship lead, overtaking Koclamazasvili in the standings. Arnolds Alnis Alfredsons remains third overall.
BTC Classes See Strong Performances from the Favourites
In BTC2, Agnius Narbutas displayed remarkable pace throughout the weekend. The Lithuanian driver left little room for his rivals and successfully defended his championship lead. Orestas Burgaila and Tadas Petukauskas currently occupy second and third places in the standings.
In BTC3, Atis Veismanis claimed victory and moved up to second place in the championship. Marta Starka finished second, while Vilius Stanulionis completed the podium in third.
Two-Hour Endurance Race: 29 Teams and Battles Until the Final Lap
The evening programme concluded with the two-hour endurance race, attracting an impressive field of 29 teams. Among them were several solo drivers who completed the entire distance without sharing the car. One of them was Artjoms Koclamazasvili, who decided to enter at the last minute and started from the back of the grid without having participated in qualifying.
The race featured two Full Course Yellow (FCY) periods, but even those interruptions failed to reduce the intensity of the competition. Teams balanced strategy, pit stop timing and mechanical preservation while continuously looking for opportunities to gain positions.
In BGT PRO, victory went to Smart Cooling by Flash Racing LV, with Reimpex by Capkauskas Autocentras finishing second. MANDE Racing Team by Autoradvilis took top honours in BTC3, while Rode Racing Turbo and Contribee Racing secured podium finishes in the BMW Turbo Cup category.
The third round of the Baltic Circuit Racing Championship will take competitors to Lithuania and the legendary Nemunas Ring circuit in Kačerginė. The Stateta BRO PRO BRO Kaunas Grand Prix, scheduled for July 3–4, promises even more battles for crucial championship points and positions at the top of the standings.
