Rally Estonia’s organisers held a press conference on Wednesday to confirm that at next summer’s event, a promising Estonian will line up in a Rally1 car for the fast gravel rally. The WRC Promoter will provide financial support to make the drive possible.
It is not yet confirmed which Estonian will be given the chance or which team’s car will be used. The three candidates are Romet Jürgenson, Robert Virves and Georg Linnamäe.
Jürgenson, 25, is the reigning JWRC champion and has also competed this season in the British Rally Championship with M-Sport. Virves, also 25, claimed his maiden WRC2 victory earlier this year at his home rally in Estonia. Linnamäe, 27, has endured a tougher campaign, with his best result being second place at Rally Estonia in July.
“It’s not yet confirmed who will get this opportunity, but fortunately we can choose between at least three very strong candidates. The final decision will certainly depend on their results this season as well as on their plans for next year,” said Tarmo Hõbe, commercial director of Rally Estonia.
“In any case, this is a very special and festive moment: at our home WRC round, tiny Estonia will see not just one but two Estonian drivers starting in Rally1 cars,” Hõbe added, referring to national hero Ott Tänak.
Tänak’s contract situation for next year remains unresolved, as his current Hyundai deal runs out at the end of the season. But Rally Estonia representatives spoke confidently that Tänak and his co-driver Martin Järveoja will be on the start line next year in top-class machinery.
Last year, the WRC Promoter supported Latvian driver Mārtiņš Sesks, who was able to compete in three WRC rounds with M-Sport Ford’s Rally1 car. For this year, he built a six-rally programme in the championship’s top tier.
