With the BRX Baltic Rallycross Championship entering its decisive stage, Latvia’s Roberts Purmalis arrives at Raassilla RX as the current leader of the CrossCar championship. Thanks to consistent performances, intensive preparation and one of the strongest teams in the paddock, Purmalis has established himself as the man everyone is chasing.<\/p>\n
For Purmalis, success starts long before race day.<\/p>\n
“I think the key to my success has been all the training I do before each race. In my opinion, preparation is one of the most important parts of racing, and it has really helped me improve this season.”<\/p>\n
Although he currently leads the championship, the season hasn’t been without difficult moments.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, one of the toughest weekends came at the very circuit that now hosts Round 4.<\/p>\n
“I’d say all the races have been quite similar, but if I had to choose one, it would be Raassilla. I struggled with my starts there and had to fight my way back from the back of the field in the final, so it was definitely a challenging weekend.”<\/p>\n
That experience only makes him more motivated to return this Saturday.<\/p>\n
When it comes to circuit characteristics, Purmalis knows exactly what suits his driving style.<\/p>\n
“I definitely prefer asphalt-dominant circuits, but I don’t mind having some gravel too.”<\/p>\n
Asked to choose his favourite track in the Baltics, there was no hesitation.<\/p>\n
“It has to be Bi\u0137ernieki. Come on, who wouldn’t agree? It’s fast, technical, has big jumps, and is just an amazing track to drive. I always enjoy racing there.”<\/p>\n
Consistency has been one of the biggest strengths behind his championship campaign, and reliability has played an equally important role.<\/p>\n
“Thankfully, I haven’t had any technical problems during the races. We had one or two small issues during testing, but nothing serious. That’s all thanks to my amazing team, who always make sure the car is in perfect condition.”<\/p>\n
Preparation is another area where Purmalis believes the championship offers competitors an important advantage.<\/p>\n
“I think we have good opportunities to test because of the official practice days before each race. They help me learn the track, find the right setup and feel comfortable before race day.”<\/p>\n
For him, those sessions are far more than simply learning the layout.<\/p>\n
“Practice is very important. It gives me time to understand the track conditions, work on the setup and build confidence before the racing starts.”<\/p>\n
CrossCar may look effortless from the outside, but Purmalis says physical preparation is essential if you want to fight at the front.<\/p>\n
“Physical training is a big part of being competitive. I train consistently because you need strength, stamina and endurance to perform at your best throughout the whole race weekend. If you want to stay at the front, you have to put in the work.”<\/p>\n
Despite the challenges he faced there previously, Raassilla remains one of the circuits he genuinely enjoys.<\/p>\n
“I really like the Raassilla circuit. It’s fast, technical, and the facilities are excellent. It’s a high-level track that’s always enjoyable to race on.”<\/p>\n
As the championship leader, Purmalis knows every point will become increasingly valuable throughout the second half of the season. With the competition closer than ever, maintaining consistency could be just as important as outright speed.<\/p>\n
When asked to sum up his approach to racing in one sentence, his answer perfectly reflects the mindset that has taken him to the top of the standings.<\/p>\n
“You have to be different to be number one.”<\/p>\n
That philosophy has worked well so far.<\/p>\n
Now, as the title battle heads to Raassilla RX on 25 July, Roberts Purmalis will be aiming to defend his championship lead and prove once again why he is the man to beat in one of BRX’s most spectacular classes.<\/p>\n
ESTONIAN<\/p>\n
BRX Baltikumi rallikrossi meistriv\u00f5istlused on j\u00f5udnud hooaja otsustavasse faasi ning CrosscCar klassis saabub Raassilla RX rajale punktitabeli liidrina L\u00e4ti s\u00f5itja Roberts Purmalis. T\u00e4nu stabiilsetele tulemustele, p\u00f5hjalikule ettevalmistusele ja tugevale meeskonnale on temast saanud mees, keda k\u00f5ik konkurendid p\u00fc\u00fcavad kinni p\u00fc\u00fcda.<\/p>\n
Purmalise jaoks algab edu ammu enne starditulesid.<\/p>\n
\u201eArvan, et minu edu v\u00f5ti on kogu t\u00f6\u00f6, mida teen enne igat v\u00f5istlust. Minu jaoks on ettevalmistus \u00fcks k\u00f5ige olulisemaid osi rallikrossis ning just see on aidanud mul sel hooajal k\u00f5ige rohkem areneda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kuigi ta juhib praegu meistriv\u00f5istlusi, pole hooaeg m\u00f6\u00f6dunud ilma keeruliste hetkedeta.<\/p>\n
\u00dcllatuslikult peab ta \u00fcheks raskemaks etapiks just Raassillat \u2013 rada, kuhu s\u00f5itjad sel laup\u00e4eval taas naasevad.<\/p>\n
\u201eK\u00f5ik v\u00f5istlused on olnud \u00fcsna sarnased, aga kui peaksin \u00fche v\u00e4lja tooma, siis oleks see Raassilla. Mul ei \u00f5nnestunud stardid ning finaalis pidin ennast rivi l\u00f5pust tagasi ettepoole v\u00f5itlema. See oli kindlasti \u00fcks keerulisemaid n\u00e4dalavahetusi.\u201d<\/p>\n
See teeb eelseisva etapi tema jaoks ainult p\u00f5nevamaks.<\/p>\n
Kui r\u00e4\u00e4kida rajat\u00fc\u00fcpidest, teab Purmalis t\u00e4pselt, millised rajad talle k\u00f5ige rohkem sobivad.<\/p>\n
\u201eMulle meeldivad rohkem rajad, kus on \u00fclekaalus asfalt, kuid natuke kruusa v\u00f5iks samuti olla.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lemmikraja valimine Baltikumis tuli kiiresti.<\/p>\n
\u201eKindlasti Bi\u0137ernieki. Ausalt \u00f6eldes \u2013 kellele see rada siis ei meeldiks? See on kiire, tehniline, seal on suured h\u00fcpped ning sellega on lihtsalt suurep\u00e4rane s\u00f5ita. Ma naudin seal v\u00f5istlemist alati.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hooaja jooksul on tema \u00fcheks suurimaks tugevuseks olnud t\u00f6\u00f6kindel tehnika.<\/p>\n
\u201e\u00d5nneks pole mul v\u00f5istlustel olnud \u00fchtegi tehnilist probleemi. Testidel on ette tulnud \u00fcks-kaks v\u00e4iksemat muret, kuid ei midagi t\u00f5sist. Selle eest tuleb t\u00e4nada minu suurep\u00e4rast meeskonda, kes hoolitseb alati selle eest, et auto oleks ideaalses korras.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ettevalmistuse juures peab ta v\u00e4ga oluliseks ametlikke treeningp\u00e4evi.<\/p>\n
\u201eArvan, et meil on v\u00e4ga head v\u00f5imalused testida, sest enne igat etappi toimub ametlik treeningp\u00e4ev. See aitab rada tundma \u00f5ppida, leida \u00f5ige seadistuse ja tunda end enne v\u00f5istlust enesekindlalt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tema jaoks on treeningp\u00e4eva v\u00e4\u00e4rtus palju suurem kui lihtsalt rajaga tutvumine.<\/p>\n
\u201eTreening on v\u00e4ga oluline. See annab v\u00f5imaluse m\u00f5ista raja tingimusi, t\u00f6\u00f6tada auto seadistusega ning kasvatada enesekindlust enne v\u00f5istluss\u00f5itude algust.\u201d<\/p>\n
Crosscar v\u00f5ib pealtvaatajale tunduda kerge ja m\u00e4nguline, kuid Purmalise s\u00f5nul n\u00f5uab tipus s\u00f5itmine v\u00e4ga head f\u00fc\u00fcsilist vormi.<\/p>\n
\u201eF\u00fc\u00fcsiline ettevalmistus on v\u00e4ga oluline osa konkurentsiv\u00f5imeline olemisest. Treenin pidevalt, sest rajal on vaja j\u00f5udu, vastupidavust ja head f\u00fc\u00fcsilist vormi kogu v\u00f5istlusn\u00e4dalavahetuse jooksul. Kui tahad olla tipus, tuleb selle nimel k\u00f5vasti t\u00f6\u00f6d teha.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoolimata sellest, et Raassilla valmistas talle eelmisel korral raskusi, peab ta seda \u00fcheks Baltikumi parimaks rallikrossirajaks.<\/p>\n
\u201eMulle v\u00e4ga meeldib Raassilla rada. See on kiire, tehniline ning kogu infrastruktuur on suurep\u00e4rane. Tegemist on k\u00f5rgetasemelise rajaga, kus on alati nauditav v\u00f5istelda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meistriv\u00f5istluste liidrina teab Purmalis h\u00e4sti, et hooaja teises pooles muutub iga punkt \u00fcha olulisemaks. Tihedas konkurentsis v\u00f5ib edu m\u00e4\u00e4rata just stabiilsus.<\/p>\n
Kui palusime tal end \u00fche lausega kirjeldada, tuli vastus kiiresti.<\/p>\n
\u201eEt olla number \u00fcks, pead olema teistsugune.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just selline m\u00f5tteviis on aidanud tal t\u00f5usta Crosscar klassi liidriks.<\/p>\n
N\u00fc\u00fcd ootab ees 25. juulil Raassilla RX rajal j\u00e4rjekordne oluline peat\u00fckk meistriv\u00f5istluste heitluses, kus Roberts Purmalis p\u00fc\u00fcab kaitsta oma liidrikohta ja kinnitada veel kord, miks on just tema mees, keda Crosscar klassis v\u00f5ita p\u00fc\u00fctakse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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