will sit in a new car with a new helmsman

Plan – full rally season

V. Žala had been visible in the Lithuanian rally for the last few years only episodically and started in several stages of the season. However, after a long break, the athlete decided to return with the full program of the Lithuanian Car Rally Championship and fight for the title of Rally Champion.

According to the Pilot of the Skuba Team, this solution matured in his head for a long time, but it usually did not have enough budget because most of the financial resources « eaten » the Dakar Rally.

« I would like to drive all the rally in a row, I could go every weekend, but the reality is different. After the Dakar Rally budget, I have to look at what’s remaining for the rally. For the last few years, three, four rally have been budget for the last few years.

Now we pressed a little and received a great deal of encouragement from Škoda. They initiated this plan to drive the entire Lithuanian Rally Championship and gave them confidence, ”said V. Žala.

The latest specification car

V. Žala, who is starting at the Lithuanian Rally Championship, also chose a whole new car for the last specification Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. He already tried a similar model last year.

V. Žala has already conducted the first tests in the new car, and as early as May 17, he will start in the first stage of the season in Lazdijai.

« I have already drove this car in a few stages last year and I liked it right away, and it can be driven quickly with it, » Mr Žala said.

Photo by A. Kneys

The race will be assisted by a young co -driver

Another news of V. damage to this year is a new helmsman. Earlier, the TEAM Pilot Pilot was read by Latvians Andris Malnieks and Ivo Pooh, an Austrian helmsman from Ilka Minor, but this year the young and promising co -driver from Lithuania sits next to V. damage.

« After a long break next to me, it will be Lithuanian again. It’s Ugnius Vainevičius, a 24 -year -old Alytus. He is a young and promising young man with a solid experience with fast drivers. This was one of the arguments why I decided to consider his candidacy.

Ugnius is very responsible for his work and has the purpose of storming his profession and main work. There are not many such people, as most often racing and storming is a hobby, and Ugnius looks at it as work. Our first challenge will be in Lazdijai. You may need to get stuck, but after the tests, I can say that everything should work well, ”the racer said.

By the way, Racer Vladas Jurkevičius helped to solve the problem of searching the co -driver. It was the latter in Lazdijai who intended to start with U. Vainevičius, who would have changed Aisvydas Paliukėnas for one stage. However, V. Žala U. Vainevicius offered to go all season together, so V. Jurkevičius had to look for another helmsman. Interestingly, he became a former resort of V. damage Ivo, so both former companions will now meet on different sides of the barricades.