The GPD Mit Metal Racing Team could have the upper hand over its FIA European Rally Championship rivals in Latvia this week following a successful trip to Lithuania recently.
Its drivers Antonín Tlusťák (pictured) and Jaroslav Orsák both took part on the Halls Winter Rally, which was held in temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees centigrade with the stages totalling 112 kilometres coated in snow and ice, to prepare for Rally Liepāja-Ventspils.
Czech driver Tlusťák, who was competing with new navigator Lukáš Vyoral in a ŠKODA Fabia S2000, said: “Our main goal was to test wide winter tyres with big studs. There were no chance to fight against local drivers, because they were using narrow tyres with studs, which are much faster.”
Orsák, who will chase ERC Production Car Cup glory on Rally Liepāja-Ventspils alongside co-driver David Šmeidler, was also in action in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.
“It was good test for us,” he said. “Tyres with long studs are amazing, the car has very good grip and wants go straight, it is completely different from what we know from our previous starts and tests on small studs. It was great experience and I hope it will help us in Latvia.”