Other events in Baltic States

Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis said that the track had previously experienced financial difficulties, but the situation changed substantially with the right owner - the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD). The upgraded Bikernieki race track has put Latvia back on the global rallycross map, Kucinskis stressed.

Head of CSDD Andris Lukstins indicates that it has not been easy to build the rallycross track, because they had a limited time frame - four and a half months, which was successfully accomplished in cooperation with the construction company Binders.

The CSDD rallycross track Bikernieki was officially opened today.

The race track is 1,294 meters long, including a section of 'dirt surface' more than 500 meters long.The so-called dirt surface consists of a mixture of minerals and cement, and this section is meant to create a dust cloud and have a decreased tire adhesion with the surface.

The Bikernieki sports complex of CSDD has set up the best motorsport track safety equipment there is at the moment - barriers and safety fences, part of which was gifted to Bikernieki by Swiss company Geobrugg, the world's leading manufacturer of safety equipment. International safety experts agree that the safety measures at the Bikernieki race track will significantly improve the safety of racers and spectators.

In early October a World Rallycross Championship leg will be held in Bikernieki, and before that, on July 24, the second leg of the NEZ Rallycross Championship will take place there, featuring Latvia's Janis Baumanis and Reinis Nitiss.

The CSDD held an open competition for the construction of Bikernieki sports complex race track's section, which was won by the road construction company Binders. The total contract price was EUR 1,822,278.