Following the publication of the updated UIM F2 World Championship calendar, which included date and venue changes, the Formula Two Team Association took the opportunity to talk with the President of the F2 Lithuania Association, Edgaras Riabko about the 2017 season.
To find and organise two international standard race venues in one year has been a huge challenge
he said,
I had been working solid for more than three months getting no results. Then finally I managed to secure an agreement with the Major of the Kupiškis region, Dainius Bardauskas and now everything I hope will be a lot smoother.
Kupiškis is located in North-Eastern Lithuania. It is the capital of the Kupiškis district municipality. The centre of the district, Kupiškis, is located at the confluence of the Lėvuo and Kupa rivers and gets its name from the latter.
Kupiškis is a relatively small city but it has distinct and cosy feel about it” said Riabko. The region is developing its recreation and tourism side. Particular attention is devoted to the development of water tourism. Their vision is to make the Kupiškis district the most attractive water tourism point in Northern Lithuania and by hosting not only the UIM F2 European Championships but also a round of the UIM F4 World Championships over the same weekend; I believe we can help them achieve their goal.
Riabko and his team are also behind the opening round of the 2017 UIM F2 World Championship, which is taking place in his home town of Kaunas.
We are getting massive support from the city and our local sponsors, the preparation are going very well.
Switching from Zarasai wasn’t an easy decision but he feels that the time was right to take the sport to the next level.
It’s the second largest city in Lithuania with a population of approximately 300,000 and has historically been the leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. We hope to get approximately 10,000 spectators over the race weekend, if the weather is on our side maybe even more. Our sport deserves to be seen by a wider audience. I did look at the main river, Nemunas, which runs through the city as a potential venue but at only two metres it’s not deep enough. So we chose to race on the Kaunas Reservoir, which is the largest body of water entirely in Lithuania and has some great sandy beaches which will also make it attractive for those watching the Grand Prix.
To assist the race teams Riabko has block booked two hotels in close proximity to the race venue which he hopes the drivers and race officials will find very convenient.
As to his own racing prospects the former S550 European Champion who secured a superb podium finish at last seasons French Grand Prix is quietly confident.
I think my personal results will get better and better step by step. I’m still a relative newcomer to Formula Two so I know it will take time but the opportunity to show the people of Lithuania not one but two F2 events this year will I hope benefit not just me but the sport as a whole.
2017 UIM F2 World Championship:
Lithuanian F2 Grand Prix, KAUNAS, 10-11 June 2017.
Belgium F2 Grand Prix, ANTWERP, 22-23 July 2017.
Norwegian F2 Grand Prix, TONSBERG, 5-6 August 2017.
Italian F2 Grand Prix, LUGANO (TBC), 9-10 September 2017.
Portuguese F2 Grand Prix, RIBADUORO, 7-8 October 2017.
F2 European Cup, KUPISKI, Lithuania, 19-20 August 2017.
