Brandon Semenuk Set for FIA World Rally Championship Debut in Latvia
Brandon Semenuk, the two-time American rally champion and Subaru Motorsports USA works driver, is set to make his FIA World Rally Championship debut next month at the Tet Rally Latvia, taking place around the Liepāja region. This marks a significant milestone in Semenuk’s career, as he prepares to take on the world’s top rally drivers in the WRC2 class.
Gaining European Experience
Semenuk, 33, will be behind the wheel of a private-run Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 machine, seeking to gain valuable experience for his American Rally Association campaign. In an exclusive interview with DirtFish.com, the Canadian driver shared his thoughts on competing in Europe:
“This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, competing in Europe is obviously going to be different to what I’m used to. Latvia is a good event, it’s obviously new to the WRC, so it does bring a little more of a level playing field.”
As Semenuk prepares to take on the challenging Latvian stages, he emphasized the importance of learning and gaining experience:
“I want to learn and to get the experience. Regardless of where I sit on the times, and I really don’t expect a whole lot, it would be nice to find progress throughout the event. And to leave with a bit of an understanding of where I still need to develop as a driver and find more speed.”
Trusted Co-driver
Semenuk will be joined by his trusted co-driver, Englishman Keaton Williams, who has previous experience with Toyota machinery. Williams co-drove for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT’s Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta in the 2021 Renties Ypres Rally Belgium.
Aiming for ARA Championship Hat-trick
Currently holding a 49-point lead over his Subaru teammate Travis Pastrana in the 2024 ARA championship, Semenuk is poised to make a strong bid for a hat-trick of championship titles this year. The 2024 Rally Latvia is scheduled to take place from July 17-22, with the official entry list to be published soon.
Expanding Motorsport Horizons
While Semenuk’s focus is on the WRC, fans of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) will be keeping a close eye on his progress, as the Canadian driver looks to apply the skills and experience gained in the WRC to his future endeavors in the world of endurance racing. As the WEC 2024 season approaches, drivers like Semenuk will be looking to make their mark on the global motorsport stage.
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