Driving force behind Walletto Racing Team

After navigating through approximately 4288 kilometres of recce, filling 9 pacenote books with precision, conquering challenging 527 kilometres of special stages, and finishing 10 out of 11 rally weekends across Lithuania and Latvia, WALLETTO Racing Team has emerged as the undeniable rookies of the year. Their debut season culminated in the remarkable achievement of clinching the Lithuanian Rally Sprint Championship titles in the 2WD and Junior categories and securing an impressive second place in the general standings.

Today, we have the pleasure of chatting with Andrejus Apockinas , Internal Auditor of Walletto and 2023 2WD and Junior category champion, driving force behind Walletto Racing Team, to gain insights and reflections on the exhilarating journey of the 2023 racing season. Join us as we delve into the #challenges and pivotal moments that defined Walletto #Racing Team's extraordinary inaugural year in rally.

- Can you share how the idea for the Walletto Racing Team came about?

- Certainly! The idea to venture into the Lithuanian #rally scene had been brewing for a while. After dedicating 15 years to karting, I reached a crossroads last summer where I decided to transition to cars. The choice between circuit racing and rally might seem unconventional, but in #Lithuania, rally racing appeared more popular and accessible. One day, while casually scrolling through the Facebook Marketplace, a bright yellow BMW coupe, initially prepared for drift, caught my attention. Seizing the opportunity, my father and I swiftly purchased the car the next day.

- Finding the right #partners was crucial. Subsequently, we located and contacted a professional rally service workshop in a neighbouring city willing to transform it in compliance with rally technical regulations and provide technical maintenance during the season. Simultaneously, I began reaching out to various companies with my vision. The monumental support and excitement I received from Walletto were truly remarkable.

"Everything fell into place – the right time, the right place".

-What were your initial goals for the season, and how do you feel about the overall outcome?

- Embarking on the journey as a racing driver with no prior rally experience, I was well aware of the formidable learning curve that awaited me and my co-driver. Rally racing is a uniquely rewarding sport with its unpredictability and inherent risks. Manoeuvring at full speed on closed-off gravel and asphalt roads adds an extra layer of complexity. While equipped with safety measures on board and the opportunity to recce the roads two times, creating pacenotes beforehand, the reality is that the unforeseen nature of rallying introduces dangerous elements. From blind crests to unexpected obstacles blocking the road like crashed cars, fallen trees, or spectators standing in an unsafe manner, the margin for error is slim. A serious accident could sideline a rally crew for an extended period. With this understanding, our initial goals were intentionally modest – simply finishing all the rallies we started.

- A decision was made to join the 2023 Rally Sprint Championship and Mini Rally as support championship for further development purposes. Navigating the challenges of each rally, we aimed for consistency and resilience. The unpredictable nature of rally racing made every successful finish a triumph. The pinnacle of this journey came when we crossed the finish line of the last stage in the final rally of the season, realising that we had clinched the title of national rally-sprint champions on our first attempt. The sense of achievement was indescribable and carried a profound personal significance. Throughout more than a decade of my racing career, I had come close to championship glory on multiple occasions, but this moment marked the realisation of a long-cherished dream. The emotions were intense, and the memory remains an unforgettable highlight in my racing career journey.

- Looking back at the 2023 rally season, can you provide a comprehensive overview of the Walletto Racing Team's journey, highlighting the most memorable moments?

- While the calendar and budget were being put together, organisational matters were being handled, and the car was being prepared, I took the initiative to collaborate with a professional racing car livery designer. Our aim was to create a vibrant and extraordinary livery that would align with the vision of all our partners for this already special and fan-favourite car. We succeeded; it looks exceptional and has undeniably captured the attention of spectators and photographers alike.

- It is not a secret that the role of a co-driver in rally racing holds significant importance. Establishing a strong bond and trust with the driver is crucial, and rally crews tend to stay unchanged for extended periods due to this connection. Finding a co-driver, let alone an experienced one, is hard and sometimes even impossible, especially for newcomers, given the disparities in experience. Recognising the intricacies of this dynamic, I faced the challenge head-on. I offered my significant other to join me as the co-driver, and to my delight, she agreed. This decision reflected a practical solution and a personal choice to involve someone close in this thrilling and demanding journey. It marked the beginning of a unique partnership, hard work and an extreme commitment to navigating the unpredictable twists and turns of rally racing together.

- While the car was undergoing preparation, parts were being sourced, and the design was turning into reality, we, as a newcomer rally crew, put in extensive effort to prepare for our debut rally season. Countless hours of our free time were dedicated to the simulator, driving after work around twisty forest roads, figuring out, individualising, writing down and applying pacenotes and delving into the intricacies of regulations, rules, and safety protocols. It was a period that perfectly summarised both the theoretical understanding of the sport and the practical experience gained during our initial tests behind the wheel.

- The season was incredibly intense, to say the least. Simultaneously, participating in two championships meant almost every weekend turned into a race weekend, demanding meticulous management of logistical and organisational challenges. Each completed rally brought valuable lessons, providing essential insights for developing the car and our skills. This continuous learning process allowed us to enhance the reliability and speed of the vehicle, building our confidence along the way. The results clearly indicate significant improvement throughout the season.

- Throughout the year, we encountered numerous memorable and significant moments. If I had to highlight a few, our first-ever rally in Visaginas stands out, where we participated as a safety crew, providing an unforgettable first experience. Another memorable moment was our first proper rally in Latvia, Vecpils, where we clinched victory in the power stage. Only a month later, we achieved our first podium in Kelme. Surviving enormous purposefully built jumps and winning the power stage in Rokiskis was equally memorable. In Elektrenai, where we dominated every special stage despite an electrical problem, forcing us to drive liaison and special stages with an open passenger side window, duct-taped to at least somehow prevent the dust and stones from getting into the car, was unforgettable. In the final stage, set in the city centre, fuel miscalculations added drama as the vehicle started starving of fuel. We limp to the finish line, pushing the car to parc ferme amidst an enormous crowd cheering us on. Despite losing a lot of time, we secured a commendable third place. The last round in Utena was a defining moment. Despite a significant points deficit to first place, an alignment of circumstances led us to victory in the championship. The finish was exceptionally emotional and memorable, encapsulating the culmination of our hard work and determination throughout the season.

-What are the team's plans and aspirations for the future?

- Even though the season has come to a close, the preparations for the next one began when we returned home from the last round in Utena. In the upcoming year, we're stepping up to the main championship, the A-League of Lithuania's rally championship. This move requires double the effort and commitment from the driver, co-driver, and the entire team, given the increased total distance and average speeds. Despite clinching the championship in the B league and gaining valuable experience, I remain modest. The goal for the next season remains essentially the same as in 2023:

"To finish first, first you have to finish".