Ever since I’ve first visited a World Rally Cross event, I wanted to come back for more. This racing discipline is so packed with high adrenaline drama, that it’s impossible to not to ask for more. Round in Riga got on my radar from the moment World RX organisers published the calendar for their 2016 season.

New country, new track and a new winner – as we got to know after the weekend, but let’s not hurry.

Forecast was ambivalent: sun on Saturday and heavy rain on Sunday.

Well, doesn’t happen often, but indeed, forecast was 100% correct. Saturday welcomed us with low autumn sun, still warm and looking very good on pictures.

Drivers started their first practice sessions.

Soon after 1st Qualifying started. For the first time this forest track witnessed tough battles on a World level.

Supporters from all around came to cheer for their favourite drivers. Here you see a blue gathering of Andreas Bakkerud’s fans.

I don’t know how many spectators attended, but if during big drift events there is only one main stand filled with people, here were at least 3 big stands sold out.

Of course, who doesn’t like to see cars going off-road on their limit? What can be better?

For many fans seeing Ken Block in person or participating in Monster Rig Riot was probably even cooler than racing itself

After the fun part, Q2 was underway. Cars were adjusted, drivers were ready for another stint.

Interesting fact, drivers wait for their cars at the starting line, they don’t drive them to the line-up themselves, their mechanics do it.

Drivers try to chill, concentrate on the upcoming race or check what others are doing

Here Mattias and Timo are watching the livestream of a race heat that is before theirs: two Audi pals, both double DTM champions

Aaand start!

Sometimes you really into getting that perfect shot and you think that you nailed it and only after, on the computer you notice that somebody left a bottle where it shouldn’t be..

Annoying, right? I think it’s also annoying if you’re Peter Solberg and you get disqualified from a heat while you’re battling for a championship.

On the other hand, it made others very excited

Peter was upset and didn’t really go out of his garage area for the whole event

As expected, Sunday was humid, very humid.

Ken Block was struggling in these conditions, but still was fighting as a boss until a contact with Gigi Galli broke his steering arm

Timo Scheider was definitely the rookie of this event. He’s been only few hours at the wheel of this Seat, but already made it to the semi-final and brought Seat the best result of the year.

Only Russians will understand this joke, but Tommy Rustad is sponsored by Surkovskaya Propaganda

Another guy was of course feeling wonderful in the rain – winner of Latvian World RX event Sebastian Loeb. Just feel his aura.

Sebastien Loeb has claimed his first ever rallycross victory at the wheel of a Peugeot 208 WRX Supercar after triumphing at round ten of the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy. Loeb is the first driver ever to win events in three different FIA World Championships (World RX, WRC and WTCC).

Kudos to Loeb.