Back in competition at the end of April on the Valkenswaard circuit after a three-year break, Roberts Vitols wasted no time reminding everyone of his talent, landing two podium finishes right out of the gate. The Latvian driver continued to build momentum at home in Riga, delivering back-to-back victories on the demanding Bikernieki track.
The Team Färén driver didn’t just win — he dominated. In addition to scoring the maximum 60 points over the weekend’s two races, Vitols claimed victory in four of the six qualifying heats and set the fastest lap in nine of his ten outings.
A near-flawless performance that only strengthens his drive going forward.
“I wouldn’t say I’m euphoric or overwhelmed with emotion,” Vitols reflected. “What I feel is the satisfaction of a job well done. We came into this round in Riga with clear goals — and we met them.”
“We were able to execute our strategy exactly as planned across both races. Consistency was our biggest asset. I didn’t make any mistakes, even though tire management was a real challenge after the puncture in Race 1, which forced us to dip into our allocation of new tires earlier than expected. After Q1 in Race 2, it became clear we’d have to adapt, given the level of wear on the tires.”
“For me, the turning point in Race 2 came during Q3. That was the pivotal moment of the weekend. After setting the best time in Q2, three of us were separated by just three points in the intermediate standings. So winning Q3 was crucial for securing pole position. We knew that starting from the front row would be key in Riga. Sure, pole isn’t always the easiest place to launch from on this circuit, so our first priority was to survive the chaos of Turn 1. At this level, it all comes down to tiny margins. We needed a clean launch, and we managed to do just that — twice — in both the semi-final and the final.”
Even after such a commanding weekend, Vitols remained grounded in his post-race analysis.
“People often underestimate the pressure that comes with starting from pole. There’s a tendency to see it as a clear advantage, but it also means you absolutely have to nail the start. There’s zero room for error. On top of that, you need to deliver five perfect laps. It’s a real challenge — you have to keep your cool, stay consistent, and replicate the same lines and braking points lap after lap. It’s not easy, but that’s what allowed me to clinch both wins here in Riga.”
Now leading the RallyX North standings, Vitols is understandably eager to keep the momentum going with Team Färén.
“Originally, we planned to do just a few races. Our appearance in Valkenswaard was mainly to prepare for Riga — we really wanted a strong result in front of the home fans. But we didn’t expect to be leading the championship so soon, and that definitely gives us a reason to keep going. I don’t know what to expect in Finland for the next RallyX round, but Scandinavia always offers us fantastic circuits to race on, so I’m not worried and I’m definitely ready to fight”