The 59th Saaremaa Rally starts on Friday, 9 October, on Kuressaare’s central square. 9.-10. The final round of the 2026 Terminal Estonian Rally Championship and Cup season, held on Saaremaa’s roads on 9\u201310 October, has drawn 161 crews from seven countries. Nine of those crews will be making their Saaremaa Rally debut. <\/p>\n\n
Fast youngsters and the legendary Margus Murakas lead the EMV2 field<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Opening the Saaremaa Rally 2026 start order are this year’s EMV1 and EMV2 champions, Karl Martin Volver \/ Annika S\u00f5na (\u0160koda Fabia RS Rally2), who finished fourth on Saaremaa last year. <\/p>\n\n “Unfortunately we couldn’t get the Toyota ready for Saaremaa after all. It only just came out of bodywork repairs and it would have been too tight, so we’ll be competing on Saaremaa with the \u0160koda. Since we already drove the \u0160koda in Paide, we have some kind of base, and in the pre-rally test we managed to improve the setup further. There’s definitely still room for improvement, and we’ll try to make it even better at the official rally shakedown, but in the big picture it should already be pretty good. The competition will be tight, and it’s basically the same group that was fighting on Saaremaa last year. You have to push from the very first kilometre. I was hoping I wouldn’t be number one, but I guess I’ll have to drive in a way worthy of number one,” Volver said in a pre-rally interview. <\/p>\n\n Starting at number two are Patrick Enok \/ Silver Simm, who finished third on Saaremaa last year and showed impressive speed in the Finnish Championship this season, including a round win. The Finnish Championship bronze medallists had to switch cars ahead of the Saaremaa Rally after an accident at the last round, but they also started on Saaremaa last year in a Toyota Rally2. <\/p>\n\n “Obviously we all have the same thing in mind: there’s no point setting a goal lower than the win. The rally in Finland definitely gave us a shake-up, in a good way, showing how easily mistakes like that can happen. Judging by our progress over last season and this one, there can be no goal other than victory. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us with advice and effort so that we can start on Saaremaa. The Printsport team found us a quick way to get a second car, and we still have an awesome group of sponsors behind us,” Enok summed up ahead of the rally. <\/p>\n\n Third onto the opening day are the 2025 Saaremaa Rally overall winners Joosep Ralf N\u00f5gene \/ Aleks Leks. They also drive a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 and, like Enok \/ Simm, warmed up at last weekend’s Finnish Championship round in Porvoo. <\/p>\n\n “We’re going to Saaremaa to defend last year’s win and give it our best. Driving in Finland beforehand was absolutely essential, both for driving in general and because we got to drive a whole day in pouring rain. Of course the grip and the surface on Saaremaa are different, but now it won’t be such a big shock if it rains. We know what to do in those conditions because we have a baseline wet setup, and it worked pretty well in Finland. I think the outlook is positive, and let’s hope everyone who entered actually makes the start,” N\u00f5gene said ahead of his last home start of the season. <\/p>\n\n Besides the crews mentioned above, six more crews are starting in the EMV2 class, among them the legendary Margus Murakas, who is set for his 35th Saaremaa Rally start as a driver. In total, Murakas has 37 Saaremaa starts to his name, two of them as a co-driver. <\/p>\n\n The idea of competing in the Saaremaa Rally didn’t come from the multiple Estonian champion himself, though. The whole package was put together by friends and longtime supporters behind his back. Sitting beside Murakas is Raul Markus, with whom he last competed in 2006\u20132007. <\/p>\n\n Murakas \/ Markus start the jubilee rally at number 35.<\/p>\n\n “My friends really did put the whole package together without my knowledge and surprised me at one point,” Margus Murakas admitted. “We’re getting the car from the RedGrey team, and I have to say that for the first time in my life I don’t have to do anything before a rally. I’ll just grab my helmet and race suit and show up. Feels just like being a factory driver! This is the last one! No more driving. Last, last, last. No ‘buts’ and no ‘maybes’,” Murakas commented via a press release. <\/p>\n\n In the EMV1 class, Egon Kaur \/ Ermo Veltson (Ford Fiesta KMS Proto), who took second place on these roads last year, will start on Saaremaa. They face competition from three crews, led by Priit Koik \/ Kristo Tamm (\u0160koda Fabia Proto 02).<\/p>\n\n In the EMV3 class, where no points have yet been awarded this season, three crews have entered the final round. First on the road, at number 12, are Esmar-Arnold Unt \/ Arro Vahtra (Ford Fiesta Rally3). One of their two rival crews is Miko-Ove Niinem\u00e4e \/ Martin Valter, who competed in the Junior WRC series in 2017 and last raced on Saaremaa in 2019. They bring a Renault Clio Rally3 to the stages. <\/p>\n\n EMV4, EMV5, EMV6 and EMV8 champions will be decided on Saaremaa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n While the EMV1 and EMV2 champions have already been decided, as many as four crews still have a shot at the EMV4 title going into the final round. Leading both the EMV4 class and the Estonian Junior Challenge are local Saaremaa crew Lukas Leivat \/ Kauri Pannas (Ford Fiesta), who lead Sander Erik Tiits \/ Fredi Kostikov by 6 and 10 points respectively. Among the ten EMV4 crews on Saaremaa are also Toyota Gazoo Racing Next Generation youth programme drivers Hiroya Minowa \/ Juho Koski-Lammi (Renault Clio RS). <\/p>\n\n As in EMV4, four crews still have a chance at the EMV5 title ahead of the Saaremaa Rally. Class leaders Taavi Niinemets \/ Arvo Liimann (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) head into the final round 31 points ahead of Gert-Kaupo K\u00e4hr \/ Kauri Tammai (Subaru Impreza 555). A total of 22 crews have entered EMV5, including class debutants Markus Tammoja \/ Karol Pert, who have swapped their rear-wheel-drive BMW M3 E36 for a four-wheel-drive Subaru S6 WRC this time. <\/p>\n\n Even though Tammoja \/ Pert, second in EMV6, decided to move to a new class before the final round, that doesn’t make life any easier for class leaders Argo Kuutok \/ Kristjan Vidder (BMW M3). Both Aaron Naul \/ Jaanus B\u00f5strov (BMW M3) and Henri \u00c4\u00e4remaa \/ Allan Birjukov (BMW M3) still have reason to think about the title, given a fast drive and some good luck. A total of 19 crews are set to start in EMV6. <\/p>\n\n The most popular class at this year’s Saaremaa Rally will be EMV7, with 32 crews entered. This year’s class champions Janar Lehtniit \/ Eero Viljus (Honda Civic Type-R) will start at number 71. <\/p>\n\n In EMV8, where 18 crews have entered, four crews still have a chance at the championship title. Class leaders Mairo Tiks \/ Mihkel Reimal are competing in EMV4 on Saaremaa, which means the title fight at the season finale will be between Romet Reimal \/ Hannes Iir (Ford Fiesta), Grete Mia Koha \/ Taavi Koha (Ford Fiesta) and Henry Heinam \/ Joosep Pukk (Ford Fiesta). <\/p>\n\n The Aava family makes Estonian motorsport history on Saaremaa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n At Saaremaa Rally 2026, the Aava family will make Estonian motorsport history by starting three generations at once: father Rain Aava, son Urmo Aava and grandson Trevon Aava. <\/p>\n\n This November marks 40 years since Rain Aava’s overall win at the 1986 Tehumardi Rally. Aava senior, who last competed on Saaremaa in 1992, will start in an EMV8 Ford Fiesta, with Anto Kuslap beside him. <\/p>\n\n While Rain Aava celebrates 40 years since his winning rally, Urmo Aava is set for his tenth career Saaremaa Rally start. Father Rain has a Saaremaa Rally overall win to his name; son Urmo has second place from 2002. Beside Urmo Aava on Saaremaa once again is Janno Siitan, and together they will start in an EMV8 Toyota GR Yaris. <\/p>\n\n The youngest Aava generation is represented by 16-year-old Trevon Aava, who had his Saaremaa Rally baptism last year, finishing sixth in EMV8. This time Aava junior starts in the EMV4 class with a Ford Fiesta Rally4, and sitting beside him is Silver K\u00fctt, who co-drove for his father Urmo at this year’s WRC Delfi Rally Estonia. The Aavas’ competition numbers at the upcoming Saaremaa Rally will be 34 (Trevon), 77 (Urmo) and 138 (Rain). <\/p>\n\n “It’s 40 years since Dad’s overall win at the Saaremaa Rally, and at some point I had the idea that the three of us could start together to mark it. I said it out loud at Dad’s 70th birthday. We’ve worked to make it happen, and it should be the first time in Estonian rally history that three generations are on the start line at the same rally. I can see it means a lot to Dad and has given him a whole second wind, which once again proves that sport has a wonderful effect on people. It’s great that we’re in the same class as Dad and the young drivers Janno and I have helped through the Aava\u2013Siitan rally school, so we get to compete on equal terms. We’ll see whether it’s the young ones or the old ones. I got Silver to sit beside Trevon, and they seem to click really well. For Trevon it’s his first start in a long time, because we pulled the handbrake on rallying for a while for various reasons, but let’s see, maybe we can now point things back in the right direction,” Urmo Aava said before the rally. <\/p>\n\n Nine crews are starting in the EMV LADA class on Saaremaa, with Artur Laul \/ Alain Sivous (Lada VFTS) first on the road at number 120.<\/p>\n\n In the EMV GAZ truck class, ten crews driving GAZ vehicles will start on Saaremaa. Three crews will fight for the title at the season finale, with 14.5 points separating leaders Heigo Ojasaar \/ Keir J\u00e4rvsaar from third-placed Ats N\u00f5lvak \/ Mairo Ojaviir. <\/p>\n\n The EMV GAZ competitors also face competition on Saaremaa from five GAZ Open class crews, led by Rainer Tuberik \/ Raido Vetesina, who have started three rounds this year.<\/p>\n\n Twenty crews have entered the final round of the Estonian Cup. Leaders Tauri N\u00f5gu \/ Priit N\u00f5gu (BMW 325i) head into the Saaremaa Rally 4.5 points ahead of Arlis Esnar \/ Andres Iva (BMW M36) and 5.5 points ahead of Geilo Valdmann \/ Mart Loitj\u00e4rv (BMW 325i). <\/p>\n\n Competitors face Saaremaa classics as well as stages not driven for more than 15 years <\/strong><\/p>\n\n Over two days of competition, crews will tackle nine special stages covering 115.09 competitive kilometres. The total length of the rally is 491.10 km. <\/p>\n\n Three special stages will be driven on the opening day of this year’s Saaremaa Rally and six on the second day. In addition to the traditional, classic Saaremaa stages, stages last driven in this configuration more than 15 years ago also make a comeback. <\/p>\n\n “The first day features quite a lot of tarmac, and the first special stage, Vanal\u00f5ve, will definitely be pretty much new to most crews: its first half was last driven in 2010 and its second half in 2008. The second stage on Friday is Vaivere, which was driven in the opposite direction in 2021. The opening day ends with the Kuressaare city stage, which is 1.61 km long this time. <\/p>\n\n On Saturday, competitors face the Saaremaa classics: Karala, Undva and Kaugatoma. Karala was last driven in this version in 2010, Undva has the sea on the right this time, and Kaugatoma has it on the left. The rally’s Power Stage is the 17.10 km Karuj\u00e4rve, which in 2023 was driven in the opposite direction and in a slightly longer version,” Saaremaa Rally Clerk of the Course Rasmus Uustulnd said, introducing this year’s stages. <\/p>\n\n As is tradition, the start and finish podium is on Kuressaare’s central square, and for the third year running the prize-giving takes place at the Kuressaare Sports Hall. The official Saaremaa Rally afterparty held there will this year feature the band 2 Quick Start.<\/p>\n\n Spectator access to the 59th Saaremaa Rally special stages is ticketed. Rally passes cost 25 euros and are available on the Piletitasku<\/a> website or at the S-Link sales point, and during rally week also at the Saare Selver sales point. When buying online, you’ll receive a unique QR code by email after purchase, which must be exchanged for a wristband at the official Saaremaa Rally 2026 sales points or on the access roads leading to the special stages. <\/p>\n\n Single-use special stage passes can also be purchased on the access roads leading to the stages, priced at 15\u20ac.<\/p>\n\n The 59th Saaremaa Rally entry list can be found HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n The 59th Saaremaa Rally schedule can be found HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n The 59th Saaremaa Rally stage maps can be found HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n