Saaremaa drivers make up a quarter of rally field

Saaremaa residents account for one in four competitors at this year’s Saaremaa Rally, ERR reports, as drivers prepare for the 59th running of the event.

There are 161 crews, or 322 people, taking part. Karl Jalakas, who will start on Friday in a 2004 BMW he also drove last year, said the car had been rebuilt so extensively that only a few parts, such as the taillights, might remain from its original version.

Jalakas said his team had replaced the drive shaft ends and was checking the steering tie rods and making final inspections to ensure all the bolts were tight. He added that the speedometer, which shows a maximum of 140, is calibrated in miles because the car has a US-market engine and instrument panel. Testing showed the car could reach about 210, he said.

Rally deputy director Henri Rump said truck rallying was unusual worldwide and was practised at this level essentially only in Estonia. A record number of trucks are entered this year, and the number could rise further next year.