- One for the champions – Kajetanowicz and Baran fight in Rally Liepaja (16-18 September) with number one on their car;
- Recently crowned FIA European Rally Champions, LOTOS Rally Team, with strong chances to grab individual titles as well;
- From February to September, from ice to gravel – the Latvian round of the FIA ERC for the first time takes place late summer instead of winter;
- 76-points advantage of Kajetanowicz with two rallies to go – Polish driver comfortably leads the 2016 FIA ERC standings;
- Changes galore in Rally Liepaja – different surface and 45% of special stages are brand new; over 203 competitive kilometres.
The attention of all motorsport fans turns this weekend to the Latvian round of the FIA European Rally Championship (16-18 September). In Liepaja, almost 500 kilometres from Warsaw, the capital city of Poland, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran commence their fight for second victory this season and, first and foremost, for points necessary to defend their European Rally Championship title. Last year the Latvian round of the series was held in winter. In February 2015 Kajetanowicz scored 10 top-three times on eleven special stages covered with snow and ice. Together with spectacular victory in season opener, Jännerrallye, these results helped Kajetan to clinch the FIA ERC Ice Master title. This season Rally Liepaja also was supposed to take place in winter. However, these plans had to be scuppered due to warm temperatures which forced the organisers to postpone the event until September. This means that round 9 of the 2016 FIA ERC takes place on gravel roads around Liepaja – third-largest city in Latvia – and the crews will use tyres suited to the loose surface rather than narrow ones with long studs.
The entry list of the penultimate round of the 2016 FIA ERC features 43 crews, with all championship frontrunners. Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran occupy the top spot, as they have been leading the standings for over five months. Among the main rivals of the reigning European Rally Champions there are second-placed Alexey Lukyanuk, who swapped his Ford Fiesta R5 for a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, and home favourite Ralfs Sirmacis in a Skoda Fabia R5. Leading competitors from the Baltic countries also want to take the opportunity to participate in their home event. They include the 2014 Latvian Rally Champion and current second-placed driver Janis Vorobjovs (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X), reigning Latvian Rally Champion and last year’s runner-up in this rally Siim Plangi (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) or seven-time Lithuanian Rally Champion Vytautas Svedas (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX). Apart from the LOTOS Rally Team crew, there are another six crews from Poland entered for round 9 of the 2016 FIA ERC.
Not only the surface is new in this year’s edition of Rally Liepaja. All European and Latvian frontrunners face eight different special stages and four of them are completely new, one is exactly the same as two years ago and three other are modified in comparison with past editions. In total, no less than 45% of the competitive distance is brand new and unused in earlier years. The competition in Latvia starts with the Qualifying Stage on Friday, 16 September, at 16:00. The opening stage gets underway on Saturday at 8:25. The final test commences on Sunday, 18 September, at 13:30, so the unofficial results of the fight on 203 competitive kilometres should be known at around 14:30 (all times are CET).
Thanks to their consistency, Kajetan and Jarek scored 166 points in their seven outings this season. Moreover, the Polish duo added to their tally in every round in which they took part. Alexey Lukyanuk entered the same number of rallies and scored 76 points less than the leaders. Only the Russian driver still maintains a chance to win the FIA European Rally Championship, although Kajto can defend his title in Latvia irrespective of the result scored by his Russian opponent. In the Teams standings the rivals cannot overhaul LOTOS Rally Team: the Polish squad clinched their second consecutive title during the previous round of the championship – Barum Czech Rally Zlin.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz There is responsibility behind every decision in motorsport, behind every steering input or suspension click. As I see it, you show this responsibility by respecting work of the whole LOTOS Rally Team, support of our partners and fans who travel a long way to watch three days of rally show. I feel the burden of this responsibility on my shoulders, irrespective of the task awaiting us – whether it is a season opener or championship decider. I approach every rally with the same humility. It helps me to give my best in order to reach the main goals. Rally Liepaja is no exception here, although from mental point of view it carries a huge load of emotions.
Rally Liepaja in numbers:
- 1st place of Kajetanowicz and Baran in the FIA ERC standings before Rally Liepaja;
- 9th round of the 2016 FIA European Rally Championship;
- 475 kms is the straight-line distance from Warsaw, capital city of Poland, to rally base in Liepaja, third-largest city in Latvia;
- 3rd outing of Kajetanowicz in this event;
- 43 crews entered for this year’s rally;
- 7 crews from Poland take part in the Latvian FIA ERC counter;
- 28.75 kms – the longest special stage of the rally – SS3;
- 166 points in seven rallies – the LOTOS Rally Team crew comfortably leads in the 2016 FIA ERC standings;
- 4th appearance of Rally Liepaja in the FIA European Rally Championship;
- 203.6 kilometres – combined length of 13 special stages;
- 1 – starting number of the LOTOS Rally Team crew in this event;
- 76 points – the advantage of Kajetanowicz over second placed driver – Russia’s Alexey Lukyanuk;
- 45% of the special stages are completely new, unused in previous seasons;
- Podium places for Kajetanowicz and Baran in 5 out of 7 FIA ERC outings this season;
- For the 1st time Rally Liepaja takes place on gravel;
- 4 new special stages included in this year’s route;
- 10 out of 11 stages in last year’s rally Kajetanowicz and Baran finished in top three;
- 29 out of 93 stages (31%) – the amount of stage wins for Kajto and Jarek in their seven FIA ERC outings this year, this is the best ratio among all competitors;
- 1st place of LOTOS Rally Team in championship standings ahead of round nine. The Polish squad has already clinched their second consecutive championship title during previous round – Barum Czech Rally Zlin;
- 67 out of 93 stages (72%) of the 2016 FIA ERC finished in top three by the LOTOS Rally Team crew;
- 3 Polish Rally Champions – Kajetanowicz, Chuchała and Habaj – take part in Rally Liepaja 2016.
Schedule of Rally Liepaja – round 9 of the 2016 FIA ERC (all times are CET):
Friday 16 September:
13:30 – Free Practice
16:00 – Qualifying Stage (4.57 kms)
19:45 – Ceremonial Start
Saturday 17 September (7 special stages; 102,78 kms):
08:25 – SS 1 (12.70 kms)
09:05 – SS 2 (17.89 kms)
09:40 – SS 3 (28.75 kms)
11:40 – Service A – 30 mins (Liepaja)
13:40 – SS 4 (27.40 kms)
14:30 – SS 5 (12.70 kms)
16:55 – Service B – 30 mins (Liepaja)
17:40 – SS 6 (1.67 kms)
17:53 – SS 7 (1.67 kms)
18:13 – Service C – 45 mins (Liepaja)
Sunday 18 September (6 special stages; 100,82 kms):
07:15 – Service D – 15 mins (Liepaja)
08:30 – SS 8 (10.29 kms)
09:00 – SS 9 (17.07 kms)
09:30 – SS 10 (23.05 kms)
11:00 – Service E – 30 mins (Liepaja)
12:30 – SS 11 (10.29 kms)
13:00 – SS 12 (17.07 kms)
13:30 – SS 13 (23.05 kms)
14:42 – Service F – 10 mins (Liepaja)
15:00 – Ceremonial Finish (Liepaja)
The 2016 FIA ERC standings ahead of Rally Liepaja:
1. Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Poland) 166 points
2. Alexey Lukyanuk (Russia) 90 points
3. Ralfs Sirmacis (Latvia) 79 points
4. Bryan Bouffier (France) 42 points
5. Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) 39 points
6. Craig Breen (Ireland) 38 points
7. Freddy Loix (Belgium) 38 points
8. Raul Jeets (Estonia) 38 points
9. Jarosław Kołtun (Poland) 38 points
10. Ricardo Moura (Portugal) 37 points
The 2016 FIA ERC Teams standings ahead of Rally Liepaja:
1. LOTOS Rally Team 127 points
2. C-Rally 68 points
3. Sports Racing Technologies 66 points
4. Tlustak Racing 50 points
5. Tiger Energy Drink Rally Team 46 points
6. Botka Rally Team 43 points
7. T&T Czech National Team 30 points
Starts of Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran are supported by strategic partner of LOTOS Rally Team – LOTOS Group – as well as CUBE.ITG and Driving Experience. More info about Kajetan Kajetanowicz and the team available at: www.lotosrallyteam.pl, www.kajto.pl, www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna, www.facebook.com/KajetanKajetanowicz and www.twitter.com/Kajto_pl
