Prima etapa a campionatului Digital Rally Series a ajuns la final in seara zilei de joi, 12 August, cu un numar surprinzator de mare de participanti. Initial programat sa se incheie miercuri, 11 august, la ora 23:59, cateva mici probleme tehnice au modifiat data de incheiere a primelor 3 etape in zilele de joi, la ora 18:00.
Suedia a reprezentat probabil cel mai important raliu virtual din Romania, fiind inceputul unei noi ere pentru motorsportul digital romanesc. Digital Rally Series este un campionat profesionist, organizat la standarde internationale, cu un numar surprinzator de inscrisi, atat straini, cat si romani.
Prima etapa, desfasurata pe zapada din Suedia, l-a avut invingator pe campionul italian de raliuri virtuale, Nicolo Ardizzone. Acelasi Nicolo reusea in urma cu cateva luni un impresionant loc 5 in campionatul mondial Dirt Rally:
"The first round of this championship went very well. A small mistake at the beginning of the rally made me lose seconds, but I managed to recover and managed to accumulate a gap that allowed me to manage the race better." ne declara Nicolo la final de raliu.
Alaturi de italian au urcat pe podium finlandezul Esa Ahonen si romanul Andrei Tarnauceanu:
"Guess I can. I could put it like this: "Sweden has been a tough rally for me on 4WD. Just can't find the right pace. I'm hoping to do better in following rallies." a declarat Ahonen la finalul cursei.
"Ruthless roads on Sweden hit us and hit hard for some of us, thankfully not me. Having my first event in DRS I considered that I need to be a bit more conservative but at the same time to keep up to my motto "If in doubt flat out". First stage was a pretty clean stage up until the end of the stage when I totally forgot that after you cross the line you still need to keep the car under control cause you'll get damage. Unfortunately I hit something which blew up my radiator and for the next 2 stages I had to upshift very fast. Luckly I managed not to lose much time. For the rest of the event it was just fun.. no major hits or issues. Unfortunately I was a bit rusty as I haven't train for while but pleased overall with the final time. " a declarat ocupantul locului trei, Andrei Tarnauceanu.
La clasa R2 Bogdan Moldovan a produs o surpriza, avand parte de un debut incredibil in raliurile virtuale dupa multe sezoane in simracing-ul de circuit al Romaniei. Moldovan s-a impus in fata experimentatului simracer Luis Moura, in timp ce pe trei a incheiat un alt participant din Racing League Romania, Robert Prepelita.
BMW-ul M2 RGT a fost imblanzit cu succes catre victorie de pilotul Walk Racing, Lukas Hellman. Astfel, victoriile lui Lukas Hellman si Bogdan Moldovan, dar si parcursul constant al lui Mihai Suteanu au asigurat o victorie dominanta pentru Walk Racing in clasamentul echipelor.
Dupa un raliu plin de rasturnari de situatie, pene, iesiri in decor dar si multe rasuciri cauzate de bancurile dure de zapada, ne mutam atentia catre continentul Nord-American, acolo unde pilotii nostri isi vor demonstra talentul pe macadamul alunecos din SUA. Rally New England, cunoscut ca "Raliul Finlandei" din America, va asteapta cu probele de viteza si capcanele specifice.
