The Estonian Grand Prix 2018, the biggest car and motorcycle race in Estonia, will take place on the outskirts of Pärnu at the Auto24ring on 30 June and 1 July. With the largest number of participants in the history of our independence, the race will attract more than 200 Northern European circuit racers, including many of Estonia's best. The fifth edition of the Grand Prix will also mark the 60th anniversary of the first Estonia Formula, and the public will be able to see the long history of Formula racing for themselves. Older and younger members of the family are welcome, along with the little ones, who can have a great time in the special children's area.
Qualifications start on Friday. On Saturday at 10am the Superstock 600 and Superbike bikes will make their first starts. Last year's European champion Hannes Soomer and Scandinavian champion Martin Pärtelpoeg will be on the track alongside the aces from neighbouring countries.
There are 40 retro-engined Legends class machines on the track, and the 2009 Austrian Formula 1 champion Tõnis Vanaselja will take on the best from Finland and Latvia. For the man, this will be his debut race at the Grand Prix.
The V8 Thunder supercars will start at 11:35. After that, the Estonian-Finnish joint class BMW Xtreme machines will take to the track, which have usually brought the Estonians first places in the close competition. More than 20 racers have announced their participation.
Brad Jurjens and Marko Atso's new rock band Must Hunt will be giving a hot performance during the lunch break. In the afternoon, it will also get hot on the circuit, with other starts in several classes. Porsches and the GT Open cars of the Baltic and Nordic Freestyle classes will also take to the track.
Sunday is a day steeped in history. In addition to the V1600 machines, the legendary Latvian Nacionale class rollerskateers will also be on the circuit. In the Formula Historic class, various Estonia Formula cars will compete. As this year marks 60 years since Ants Seiler and his friends built the Estonia 1 Formula at the Tallinn Automobile Repair Test Factory, several Estonia legends such as Madis Laiv, Henry Saarm, Raul Sarap, Toivo Asmer, Mart Kongo, Raivo Stimme and Toomas Napa, who has been dubbed the motorsport driver of the century, have promised to attend the race.
At 11:05, the BMW Xtreme 45-minute endurance race will start, with a mandatory pit stop to add to the excitement. Nostalgic Volgas and Ladas will also take to the track. The afternoon will be reserved for the V8 Thunder and Historic cars, which will make their second start. The grand prix will be drawn at approximately 16:00.
Both days of the competition will be broadcast live on Kanal 12 and on the Postimehe website.
More information:
www.facebook.com/suurvoidusoit
www.instagram.com/estoniangrandprix
Photo by Karola Koopuu
