The first race of the season in Parnu ends with great atmosphere and beautiful racing on track
More than 100 participants across many classes lined up on the grid to see who has done the best homework in winter and is the fastest on the race track. After testing and practice sessions on the beautiful Porsche Ring, Saturday was the day when gloves were dropped and the best determined!
The day started with a spectacular grid for GT class with “992 GT3 CUP” class setting the pace. “Rode Racing” pilot Leo Messenger was the pace setter from start to the finish and took the chequered flag first, followed by Eduardas Klepikas and Marius Bartkus. Nerijus Raudonis was dominat in the BGT AM class beating Mika Makinen and Edvardas Grabliauskas. The BGT PRO Karolis Stasiukynas (ES Motorsport by AMG Customer racing) with the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3 EVO, beating Turo Levanan and Dovydas Ketvirtis. BTC4 victory in race 1 went to Arturs Simins. Race 2 scenario was similar – Messenger leading the race in a dominant fashion but this time Egidijus Grazys was second Bartkus third again. Thus overall in the Porsche “GT3 CUP 992” class first place to Leo Messenger, Klepikas second and Bartkus third. Stasyukinas won also the second race in the BGT PRO securing also victory in the overall, while Ketvirtis second place in Race 2 means second place overall, leaving third place to Levanen. In the BGT AM Grabliauskas won the second race and it was enough to be the first place overall, leaving Nerijus Raudonis in second and Mika Makinen, guest from Finland in the third position. BTC4 second race was won by Henrikas Statkus dropping Simins to second overall.
The 30 car BMW 325 CUP grid promised tough racing on track. Paulius Urbonavicius started from pole but after first corners was overtaken by Ricards Subeckis, who steadily set bigger gap to second position man Paulius Urbonavicius who had to defend hard from Matiss Malinovskis right until the finish line. Malinovskis after a great start overtook Julius Kirsis and was chasing Oskerko, whois race was cut short when after a small contact with opponent his car’s hood popped open and he had to retire. Fastest Masters class racer was Julius Kirsis, rookie – Arturs Sarma.
Second race was a similar story – Ricards Subeckis started from the pole and drove away in a sunset. The race 2 was more calm for Paulius Urbonavius who had a steady second place finish. Julius Kirsis secured third in a comfortable fashion, but proper battles were on for P4 – after some penalties from the stewards Uldis Timaks took the place, while Matiss Malinovskis was fifth followed by Latvian legend Matiss Mezaks. Overall Subeckis took first place, leaving Urbonacius and Kirsis on the other steps of the podium. Fastest “Masters” were Kirsis, Timaks and Algirdas Gelzinis. Rookies class won by Eividas Sitavicius, but Vilnis Batraks was fastest among gentlemen!
Nine participants among V1600 promised some intrigue in the class. And there was. Last years champ Raivis Meilands took the pole by just hundreths of the second over Ragnar Simuland. There was a fierce battle for the lead with Simuland, Meilands and Viesturs Ozols. Simuland came out victorious, beating by one second. Meilands came home third. Race 2 was battle between Simuland and Ozols for P1, but technical issues forced Ozols to slowly cruise on track and finish P5 but took third place overall. Meilands took P2 in Race 2 and second also overall.
ABC Race had massive battles during all the race. Mareks Matvejevs was the hero of the day, finishing second in first race and first in the second race. Nauris Agafonovs was second overall and Arturs Danilevskis third.
Baltic Touring Cars race was a proper entertainment for the lovers of modified cars. Simo Lind was unstoppable in both races and proved his skill and thus a well deserved 1st place overall. But all was open for P2 with positions switching all the time. Kairo Kallas fought hard for the 2nd place in race 1 and was fourth in the Race 2 but that was not enough as the BaTCC youngcomer as Agnius Narbutas in Race 2 took P2 and second place overall. Tomas Jatkevicius was first in both races but it was hard fought with Arturas Kliobavicius. Dovydas Akstinas dominated the BTC1 class, where Lelde Dembovska was second.
The Nankang 2h Endurance Academy was competitive and fought all the 2 hours of racing but only one and short FCY stint meant the teams had to fight out on the track. DMK Racing team had a flawless race and secured a victory with 82 laps and were also fastest in BGT AM, beating the class opponents and the team overall – B a ltic K a r t in g A c a d e m y b y D y n a m i: t E n e r g y R a c ing, the third place Diesel powered “Pols Racing” team with Gediminas Bilinskas by the wheel, last years BTC3 sprint champion. “Orlen-Lietuva Jauda” took 4th place overall and were first in the BTC4 standings with 80 laps, beating Hemi Racing Statomenas, BTC4 class second place by one lap. “Lind Racing” with driver Simo Lind with a 2L Honda, came home fifth overall and P2 in the BTC3 class. Dvaras racing were victorious in the BMW 325 CUP, while Autokaslita were first in BTC2. ACAP Racing had a good battle with MKM Racing. After 2 hours both teams were split by just 12 seconds. LDV Racing finished the race third in the class.
Formula Historic had a nice field of 12 various historical formulas. Taavi Kuul won both races in Formula Mondial class ,beating Mario Mattik and Enn Lahker. While Easter class was won by Sten Suban, followed by Italo Alsins and Ekke-Taavi Sepper.
Next race of the Baltic Touring Car Championship is taking place in Riga, Bikernieki, June 15th.
