Leader of the first day of “7bet Gravel Fest Rally – Lazdijai” Vaidotas Žala: “Everything is going according to plan”
The first day of “7bet Gravel Fest Rally – Lazdijai” ended on Friday in Lazdijai. During it, the participants had to overcome four special stages, the total length of which is just over 30 kilometers. After the first day of the rally, Vaidotas Žala took the leading position, winning all four stages.
Vaidotas Žala and Ivo Pūkis started their dominance right from the very first SS, where they immediately “brought in” 5.6 seconds to the closest pursuers Martynas Samsonas and Ervinas Snitkas. The third time was shown by Vladas Jurkevičius with Aisvydas Paliukėnas. In the second stage, the situation was repeated – the top three were in the same order. In the third and fourth stages, Vaidotas Žala was the fastest again, and Vladas Jurkevičius showed the second result twice. Martynas Samsonas and Giedrius Notkus recorded the third results in these stages.
Finally, after the first day of the rally, Vaidotas Žala took the lead by 24 seconds, leaving Martynas Samsonas behind. Martynas saved just 3.5 seconds an advantage over Vladas Jurkevičius, who established himself in third place. Fourth after the first day of “7bet Gravel Fest Rally – Lazdijai” – Martins Sesks. Just 0.6 seconds from him Giedrius Notkus was behind.
“I would say everything is going great. In the third, fourth speed section, I started to hear the driver better, we got into a rhythm. The second time I went through the SS’s, there was a bit of rutting, which I really like. It sometimes resembles a rally raid, and I feel good there. Anyway, the car runs great, the tires too. We ended the first day of the rally on a really good note.
Of course, tomorrow, after the regrouping, it will be necessary to go first, to clean the road. However, if it rains a little overnight, it will be easier. But after today I feel calm. I go to sleep with a calm head, that everything is going according to plan”, said Vaidotas Žala, the leader of the first day of “7bet Gravel Fest Rally – Lazdijai”.
