Travelling from the capital city of Rīga on Saturday, President Rinkēvičs took in two stages of his nation’s maiden FIA World Rally Championship event before arriving in Liepāja in the evening in time to greet local hero Martins Sesks, who finished Saturday in a podium position.
“I have been impressed to see two stages, actually, of this rally and I think that, not only me, but also all the people who are attending this are completely impressed. I think they would be very happy to see [WRC] coming back again,” President Rinkēvičs remarked during his visit.
“Just earlier today attending one of the stages of the rally I saw the people, and then I realised they are following this sport for years, decades actually. We have the history of almost 60 years of rallies that have been held in this part of Latvia. For many Latvians, the first time hosting this [WRC] event here is an incredible experience,” he noted.
The President also had the opportunity to meet the drivers including local hero Mārtiņš Sesks, who is currently on course to net a podium on home soil after a rally-long battle with eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier.
“I was laughing that Mārtiņš is probably the number one guy who is very popular, myself somewhere in the second hundred or third hundred,” he joked. “And if I had a chance, I would probably ask him for a selfie!”
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