Autocross round in Smiltene held amid extreme rain
On Sunday, August 23, the Smiltene 'Teperis' track hosted round 5 of the Latvian autocross championship and round 4 of the Estonian championship under heavy rain. The event became one of the season's most dramatic.
On Sunday, August 23, the Smiltene sports and recreation complex 'Teperis' hosted round 5 of the Latvian autocross championship and cup season, along with round 4 of the Estonian championship. Estonian participants competed only in the heavy vehicle classes D12 and D13.
The competition took place in extremely difficult weather conditions. Part of Latvia had recently been hit by a storm, and Smiltene itself saw unfavorable weather — rain fell on Saturday, and on Sunday it intensified, pouring almost continuously throughout the day.
A muddy battle on the track
The heavy rain turned the track into a barely passable surface, and competitors' cars became heavily coated in mud during the race. People who followed the event remotely, without attending in person, reacted with shock upon seeing photos and videos from the competition showing race cars splattered in mud up to their roofs while fighting for position on the track.
Organizers and observers described this round as one of the most dramatic and visually striking events of this season's autocross series, given the extreme weather conditions competitors had to race in.
