After four consecutive podium finishes since making his Supercar Lites debut at the end of April, double Riga winner Roberts Vitols saw his impressive streak come to an end in mid-June at the KymiRing. Still, the talented Latvian driver remains unfazed, holding a commanding eight-point lead over Lukas Andersson at the top of the RallyX North standings.
Despite being in a position to upset Andersson—who had won the opening two qualifying rounds—and snatch the top spot in the intermediate classification, Vitols saw his hopes of victory go up in smoke during a final marred by early mechanical issues, forcing him to settle for sixth and last place.
It was a frustrating result from a points perspective, but one that did little to dent Vitols’ confidence. Instead, he chose to focus on the positives from a weekend where his outright pace was once again on full display.
“Overall, I think our work in Finland was very satisfying. My experience in this category is still limited, and even though we faced a completely new track, we showed we could be quick right away, no matter the conditions. I set the fastest time in FP1 and finished second in FP2—even with a few mistakes—so that shows we’re able to adapt quickly to new environments.”
The KymiRing layout, both demanding and unconventional, tested the drivers’ adaptability while also putting serious strain on their machines. And Vitols was up for the challenge.
“The layout was really enjoyable, especially the gravel sections. It has huge potential to become a proper rallycross track, provided the surface gets more consistent. The ruts were so deep that you had to fully trust the car to stay on line, constantly risking mechanical damage or a puncture. That’s something completely new for me in a Supercar Lite. Plus, with the engine and gearbox in the rear, the handling is totally different from what I’ve known in Supercars or Super1600.”
Still in the early stages of his development in this highly competitive category, Vitols remains grounded while also acknowledging how far he’s come in a short time.
“This was only my third weekend in the category, whereas some competitors are in their second or even third season. So no, we’re not at full potential yet—but that’s actually encouraging. There’s still real room to grow. The semi-final proved that once again, with incredibly close gaps between the drivers.”
“In both races, four cars finished within one second! And in the final, I had a strong pace, a good start, even the fastest first sector. Unfortunately, coming out of the joker lap on lap two, I hit a hole that caused a puncture. That’s when I knew it was over. But still, it was another learning experience—a weekend that confirmed we can be competitive on any surface, whether familiar or brand new. That’s a big positive.”
Now more than ever, Vitols is banking on consistency to carry him through the rest of the season—an essential strength in a championship as closely contested as RallyX North.
“Consistency is definitely one of my strengths. Even on a new track or one that doesn’t suit me, I’m able to deliver solid results—like I did at KymiRing. RallyX isn’t an easy championship. The level is incredibly high, both in terms of outright speed and the overall field. I think fans sometimes underestimate just how deep the competition is. Now we look ahead. What will our pace be? What kind of rivals will we face? Let’s see what the next round brings.”