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Road to next Challenge

13.11.2023 - V. Ceļš ended his 8-time winning strike in the WRS Rally Championship with a great win in Japan, only 1 second in front of J. Zhuk. In Season 9 wins was totally fine to win the title again. But… In next season we will have a new and fresh WRS champion.

A short conversation with champion Visvaldis Ceļš.

Q: How do You feel after finishing this great Win run?
A: It’s Amazing after the first 4 titles every next one comes with a new surprise and difficulty level. Of course, all season was under my control, because we knew in which rally we could push and where better to keep pace to finish on the podium.

Q: Your 8 titles are with 5 different car manufacturers, why?
A: Yes, after the first 3 runs with Mini, I searched for new actions and challenges. I set a new goal for myself – win the championship with every manufacturer.

Q: Then why 2 times with Toyota?
A: After a thrilling season with Hunter, who promised to come to every race with 100% power, I think about the trusted car. It's why Toyota. Yeah, and it was a little bit disappointing, Hunter lost money in some financial markets and didn’t appear at the start. That was an easy season.

Q: Next season with Skoda?
A: This time not, I was planning to join Formula 1 team in season 55. But life is life, and opportunity comes 1 season faster. I will join the Formula 1 team Aston Martin.

Q: Why Formula 1 and Aston Martin?
A; Every driver dreams about Formula 1, and rally champions are not excluded. Yes, I have only a small experience with track races, but I have a lot of speed and motivation. Aston Martin has always been our family Formula 1 team. My uncles Miervalds Kauss and Laimnesis Kauss were Formula 1 drivers too. I wish to achieve something similar to Miervaldis – some poles and wins.

Q: Does this mean the end for Rally?
A: Not. I will drive some local rally events and still have plans to win with Skoda. Maybe then in the WRS calendar will be Latvia.

At this moment Visvaldis Ceļs have the most WRS Rally champion titles – 8.
3 with Mini Cooper
2 with Toyota Yaris
1 with Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20 Coupe and Citroën C3
And most WRS Rally Stage wins – 94 wins.
And the longest WRS Rally Series win strike - 28 wins—Finland (Season 45) to Italy (Season 47).