Mäkelä Racing Team opened their season this year on the race track of Bikernieki in Riga. We participate in the BMW Xtreme Cup with two cars. Mtec1 car team will be continued by Miikka Mäkelä and Marko Vähämäki as last year. Mtec2 car was driven by Milla Mäkelä starting her debyt season in BMW Xtreme.
In qualifying the boys were fast taking positions 2nd and 8th for their starts on the grid on saturdays races. Milla had starting places as 17th and 18th.
Saturdays races were driven in wet conditions and very slippery new asphalt on the first corner gave some headaches to many drivers on that day. Milla drove well getting her first experiences on rain conditions taking the 13th position on the finish flag as Marko had bad luck getting stuck on gravel in the first corner from 2nd position. On second race it was Millas turn to get stuck on gravel and Miikka had a sure drive taking the 5th position on the flag.
As the rain had gone and track dried on Sunday was time for the 45 minute long race with compulsory pit stop or driver change half way. Marko and Miikka started from 4th and Milla from 17th. Marko came in from 4th place to change driver and Miikka fought for podium but having to settle for 6th place in the results. Milla had a very good fight going on for 12th place and was catching some of the top 10 drivers. Unfortunately on the pit stop her car stalled and when leaving the pit she only made it to first corner until her engine shut down. Later examination reveals the reason was a nut gone loose from the oil pump lowering the oil pressure and the nut went between the timing chain getting the engine completely jammed.
Races had been aired live on local tv and race highlights can be still found behind the links below.
FIRST RACE (WHOLE RACE)
Next Xtreme race will be driven in Viro, Pärnu on 20th and 21st of May.