A newcomer to the RallyX championship, the Latvian driver will be looking to shine at the wheel of the ex-Jack Thorne and Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 at Tierp this weekend. A supercar that Marcis Martinovs was able to show off a few days ago by winning the first stage of the Baltic Championship held in Riga.
Marcis Martinovs has certainly acquired a valuable weapon this winter. After being the pride of Albatec Racing for several seasons, this Peugeot 208, which was later completely overhauled to allow Jack Thorne to compete at the very top of the British Rallycross Championship, will now be used in RallyX from the 2024 season onwards.
A few days ago, the Latvian driver reflected on his rather successful introduction to the Peugeot 208 in Riga.
“Today was my first real full race with this car, which is completely new to me. Before this weekend I tested this Peugeot for maybe an hour. And during this event I realised that there was always the possibility to improve and go faster and faster. It is really interesting to understand the capabilities of this car. ” explains the Latvian driver.
After two seasons at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Supercar and a runner-up finish in the Baltic Series last season, Marcis Martinovs was able to measure the difference between his previous car and his new weapon.
“In the past I was using a Ford Fiesta. It is impossible to compare the two because the Peugeot is much faster. The steering and braking are much more advanced now. This car was bought from the UK where it was used by two owners in just eight races, so it is relatively fresh.”
In a few hours’ time, Marcis will take on a challenge of a completely different nature when he joins the RallyX championship, where he will team up with CrossCar specialist Ronalds Baldins.
“My main goal is to drive a full schedule in RallyX Nordic. And therefore I will definitely not do a full season in the Latvian-Lithuanian championship. I have commitments to my family and my business, so I can’t compete in two series at the same time. We will start as a team in RallyX championship. Ronalds is a friend of mine. We decided that it is possible to reduce some costs if we go together and use the same bus and trailer for my car and his CrossCar”
Interview by Dmitrijs Pribilovs
