Caune and Svencis rank among the best on China rally's toughest day
Latvian crew Krišjānis Caune and Edgars Svencis finished 12th overall at the FIA Eco Rally Cup round in China, after placing among the top three on the event's most demanding day. Czech driver Michal Zdarský dominated the round.
From September 9 to 14, China hosted the eighth round of the 2026 FIA Eco Rally Cup season, Eco Rally China, featuring X3000 Skandi Motors Racing driver Krišjānis Caune and co-driver Edgars Svencis. Over five days, competitors covered a 1,130-kilometer route, including eight regularity stages across mountainous Chinese roads totaling 259.23 kilometers.
Results were determined by two components: penalty points from regularity driving and the electric energy consumed by each crew's EV. The Czech crew of Michal Zdarský and Jakub Nábělek posted the most precise regularity performance and also the most efficient energy consumption, securing a commanding overall win and extending their lead in the season standings. A combined San Marino–France crew took second, with a Slovenian crew finishing third.
Latvian crew's performance
For Caune and Svencis, this was their sixth of nine planned rounds this season and their most distant start outside Europe. They finished among the top ten in four of the eight regularity stages, and on the event's final and most challenging day, they claimed third place in the regularity category, earning a special award for the result.
Overall, the crew placed 13th in the regularity classification with 13,009 penalty points and 8th in energy efficiency. Combining both components, Caune and Svencis finished 12th overall with 13,313.34 points.
Driver Krišjānis Caune said the competition in China differed organizationally and technically from other rounds, noting that delayed results made it harder to adjust their driving during the event. Still, the crew delivered a strong performance on the final day. Co-driver Edgars Svencis noted that in China they did not drive their usual Hyundai Kona EV, but the long format suited them well, allowing their endurance to show.
Earlier this season, the Latvians competed in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and Latvia, winning the regularity category at the Latvian round in July. Their next start comes September 17–19 in Spain, at the season's ninth round.
