Vitols Leads Qualifying, Finishes Sixth After Puncture in Finland, Kymiring RallyX

The RallyX championship returned to Finland in mid-June, with the Kymiring hosting the third round of the season. The weekend brought both challenges and excitement for Latvian driver Roberts Vitols, who once again showcased front-running speed in the RallyX Supercar Lites category – but left with a bittersweet result after misfortune struck in the final.

The event started under unusual circumstances. Poor track conditions on the gravel sections forced organizers to stretch the third round across two days and cancel the planned fourth round, leaving competitors with a demanding and unpredictable racing surface. Despite the tricky conditions, Vitols quickly found his rhythm. He set the fastest time straight away in free practice, and in the four qualifying heats delivered three second-place finishes and one victory. That consistency was enough to secure him the top qualifier position, his third from three RallyX North events so far this year.

The semi-final turned into one of the tightest races of the weekend. Vitols was leading the run until the last lap, when car stopped on a inside line of one of corners that made Vitols loose some time, crossing the line just fractions of a second behind Frenchman Meunier, when completing his joker lap, finishing second and advancing to the final. The result confirmed once again that the young Latvian could adapt quickly to a new track and fight with the most experienced names in the category.

In the final, starting from row 2, all signs pointed toward another podium finish, at least 2nd place. Vitols had strong pace from the start, setting the fastest first sector and holding a strong 2nd position. But his race unravelled on lap three: after exiting the joker lap, already securing at least 2nd place, Vitols hit a deep rut that caused a puncture on the rear-left tire. The damage ended his chances of fighting for the win or podium, and he was forced to limp home in sixth place.

Overall, I think our work in Finland was quite satisfying,” Vitols reflected after the race. “My experience in this category is still limited, and even though we faced a completely new track, we showed we could be quick right away. The layout was enjoyable but very demanding – the gravel ruts were so deep that every lap felt like a risk of mechanical damage or punctures. I was careful and managed that very well through both days, but unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened in the final, when I pushed too hard without knowing that there will be a hole. Still, it was another weekend that confirmed we can be competitive on any surface and any track, whether familiar or brand new.

Although the final result was frustrating, the weekend did little to dent Vitols strong championship campaign. After three rounds, he still holds the lead in the overall RallyX North standings, underlining his consistency and speed in his first full season in Supercar Lites.

“Consistency is one of my strengths,” he added. “Even on tracks I don’t know, we’re able to deliver strong results. Now it’s all about learning, improving, and making sure we can fight for wins at next rounds.”

Roberts Vitols competes in RallyX with the proud support of Provento (www.provento.lv) – a company with over 30 years of experience in agricultural, forestry, garden, and construction machinery, equipment, and spare parts.