2022-07-07
Two Estonian teams join "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race
Less than a week remaining until the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race in Palanga, the largest long-distance car race in the Baltic States.
"I am delighted that our traditional event has on the list over thirty teams again this year," says Darius Jonušis, director of Promo Events.
Two Estonian teams, "KSB Racing by Jõujaam" and "Jõujaam", have recently completed the formalities of their applications for the race in Palanga.
Both teams are not new to the "Aurum 1006 km powered by Hankook" race.
"Jõujaam" team had its most successful year in 2020, with Andres Altpere, Sven Karuse, Kristo Magi and Andres Ringo finishing fourteenth overall and first in the TC3 class.
Sven and Andres, who know the Lithuanian track well, remained in the team, with the addition of the experienced Jori Ala-Jyra. This Estonian trio will be driving a “BMW E36” with a 3.3-litre engine and competing in the TC4 class this time.
Meanwhile, the other "KSB Racing by Jõujaam" team will bring the biggest 2018 "Ford Madstang" with a 7-litre engine capable of pumping out 650 HP.
Another characteristic of this team is that all of its drivers are Finnish.
According to the team manager Gunilla Lindqvist, Raimo "Ransu" Kesseli is the most prolific, having won the Finnish championship multiple times in the "Finland in Retro Superbikes" competition.
Magnus "Mankka" Collin is the 2020 Finnish "Superbikes" series champion and he took 2nd place in 2021.
Both drivers competed in the famous "Le Mans" race.
Markku Blomqvist, the third driver of the team, is making his debut in Palanga, but he has much experience in various other races, including long-distance ones.
Why is this Estonian team back again, and what was the main reason for wanting to compete in Palanga - a good result from last year, a desire to win more, or other factors?
“The drivers and the whole crew love the ambiance, professionality and excitement of competing and seeing what everyone else are bringing to the show” says Gunilla Lindqvist, the manager of the Estonian team coming to Palanga.
Photos by Vytautas PILKAUSKAS