Analysis
Martins Sesks to debut in rally-raid at Baja Poland
WRC driver Martins Sesks will compete in Baja Poland, marking his first foray into rally-raid with a Latvian-built Viking Challenger.
Martins Sesks, a prominent figure in the World Rally Championship, will make his rally-raid debut at Baja Poland 2026, scheduled from August 27-30; this event represents a significant shift for the Latvian driver, who will pilot the Latvian-built Viking Challenger in the FIA European Baja Cup. RallyJournal first reported this development, highlighting Sesks' ambition to explore new motorsport disciplines.
A New Challenge for Sesks
Sesks expressed his anticipation for this entirely new experience, acknowledging the distinct demands of rally-raid compared to traditional rallying. He noted that the discipline requires a different strategic approach, particularly regarding navigation, as the route remains unknown until the competition begins and is navigated using a roadbook. In contrast to the meticulously perfected pace notes of traditional rallying, rally-raid relies heavily on the co-driver’s ability to interpret terrain and provide precise instructions, which underscores a fundamental difference in racing philosophy.
For Baja Poland, Sesks will partner with Didzis Zariņš, whose extensive experience in rally-raid is expected to be invaluable for Sesks' learning process. Sesks aims to absorb as much knowledge as possible about the discipline, understanding that a single navigation error can lead to substantial time penalties. The endurance aspect is also a key factor, with special stages potentially lasting several hours, necessitating a focus on risk assessment, vehicle preservation, and the careful management of personal energy and stamina, a stark departure from the sprint-like nature of WRC stages.
The Latvian Connection
Sesks will compete in a T3-class lightweight prototype, the Viking Challenger, which has been developed and built by the Latvian motorsport company Sports Racing Technologies (SRT). This partnership extends a successful collaboration between Sesks and SRT in rallying, and SRT boss Ģirts Krūzmanis emphasized the special significance of a Latvian driver and co-driver competing in a Latvian-developed vehicle. This synergy highlights the burgeoning motorsport capabilities within Latvia, a country that also has historical ties to Finnish rallying through shared geographic and competitive environments.
Ambition Beyond Baja Poland
SRT's ultimate ambition for the Viking Challenger is victory in the Dakar Rally, positioning Baja Poland as a crucial stepping stone in this long-term goal. The vehicle's design is specifically oriented towards excelling in rally-raid events, suggesting a calculated and focused effort to conquer this challenging discipline. Following his rally-raid debut, Sesks is scheduled to return to WRC competition at Rally Sardinia in early October, demonstrating his commitment to both disciplines concurrently. This dual focus could provide Sesks with a broader skill set, potentially enhancing his overall performance in future WRC seasons, although this remains to be seen. There is no specific Finnish connection to this story beyond the general proximity of Latvia and Finland in European motorsport.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Analysis, which means this is our reading of facts that are already established. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- RallyJournalrallyjournal.com
