LOTOS Rally Team crew fastest on the Qualifying Stage ahead of the Azores Airlines Rallye

• Kajetanowicz sets the fastest time on the Qualifying Stage ahead of the 2017 Azores Rallye;
• This is 19th top-three Qualifying Stage result for the LOTOS Rally Team driver in his FIA ERC career;
• Kajto earned the first choice of his starting position for today’s special stages.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran topped the standings on the Qualifying Stage ahead of the Azores Airlines Rallye. The LOTOS Rally Team crew recorded the fastest time on 3.12-kms Remedios test, winning a fierce battle against their biggest rivals Alexey Lukyanuk (+0.107 s) and Ricardo Moura (+1.461 s). Fourth-fastest time went to Nikolay Gryazin (+1.754 s), while José António Suárez took fifth place (+2.190 s).

The fight took place in beautiful, sunny conditions which for sure pleased rally fans, who over the last couple of days had to get used to rainy weather on the island. This is 19th top-three finish for Kajetanowicz in Qualifying for FIA ERC round. After this victory the Polish driver will select his starting position for today’s stages as the first competitor in entire field.

The opening test, Lagoa Stage (2.14 kms) starts at 17:21 CET. Afterwards the crews will tackle three further stages: Solucoes (7.08 kms, start at 17:40), Vila Franca – Sao Bras (13.47 kms, start at 18:25) and Grupo Marques superspecial (3.95 kms, start at 19:22).

Kajetan Kajetanowicz: – We have completed the Qualifying Stage, in beautiful weather conditions. It could change quickly but this is Azores. Everything can happen here. The stage time was excellent, I had a good feeling and the car was prepared extremely well by our great team. I am doing my best and when I enjoy driving, I am very quick although something can always go wrong. This rally is unique, with extremely strong field. I cannot remember such situation in history, there are no less than 28 R5 cars driven by very fast drivers from different countries and they all fight against us. Everybody wants to win this rally and show what they are able to achieve. We have to push hard and take good decisions in the service park. We have a good mindset but there is a long rally ahead of us.

The unofficial results of the Qualifying Stage ahead of the 2017 Azores Rally:

1. Kajetanowicz/Baran (Poland, Ford Fiesta R5) 1:54.250
2. Lukyanuk/Arnautov (Russia, Ford Fiesta R5) +0.107 s
3. Moura/Costa (Portugal, Ford Fiesta R5) +1.461 s
4. Gryazin/Fedorov (Russia, Skoda Fabia R5) +1.754 s
5. Suárez/Carrera (Spain, Peugeot 208 T16 R5) +2.190 s
6. Griebel/Kopczyk (Germany, Skoda Fabia R5) +2.262 s
7. Sirmacis/Simins (Latvia, Skoda Fabia R5) +2.753 s
8. Magalhães/Magalhães (Portugal, Skoda Fabia R5) +2.941 s
9. Kołtun/Pleskot (Poland, Ford Fiesta R5) +3.281 s
10. Meireles/Castro (Portugal, Skoda Fabia R5) +3.728 s

Starts of Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran are supported by strategic partner of LOTOS Rally Team – LOTOS Group – as well as CUBE.ITG, Delphi 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.

Schedule of the 2017 Azores Rally (all times are CET):

Thursday 30 March (4 special stages, 26.64 competitive kilometres):

10:00 – Free Practice
12:03 – Qualifying Stage (Remedios, 3.12 kms)
14:30 – Selection of start positions (Ponta Delgada)
16:30 – Starting ceremony (Ponta Delgada)

16:35 – Service A – 15 mins (Ponta Delgada)
17:21 – SS 1 – Lagoa Stage (2.14 kms, 47% gravel, 53% asphalt)
17:40 – SS 2 – Solucoes (7.08 kms, 64% gravel, 36% asphalt)
18:25 – SS 3 – Villa Franca – Sao Bras 1 (13.47 kms, 85% gravel, 15% asphalt)
19:22 – SS 4 – Grupo Marques Superspecial 1 (3.95 kms, 100% gravel)
Flexi Service B – 45 mins (Ponta Delgada)

Friday 31 March (6 special stages, 80.20 competitive kilometres):

11:45 – Service C – 15 mins (Ponta Delgada)
12:43 – SS 5 – Pico de Pedra Golfe 1 (7.02 kms, 73% gravel, 27% asphalt)
13:22 – SS 6 – Feteiras 1 (7.46 kms, 98% gravel, 2% asphalt)
13:53 – SS 7 – Sete Cidades 1 (25.72 kms, 82% gravel, 18% asphalt)
15:38 – Service D – 30 mins (Ponta Delgada)

16:43 – SS 8 – Pico de Pedra Golfe 2 (7.02 kms, 73% gravel, 27% asphalt)
17:22 – SS 9 – Feteiras 2 (7.46 kms, 98% gravel, 2% asphalt)
17:53 – SS 10 – Sete Cidades 2 (25.72 kms, 82% gravel, 18% asphalt)
Flexi Service E – 45 mins (Ponta Delgada)

Saturday 1 April (6 special stages, 103.36 competitive kilometres):

10:38 – Service F – 15 mins (Ponta Delgada)
12:08 – SS 11 – Graminhais 1 (21.01 kms, 92% gravel, 8% asphalt)
12:58 – SS 12 – Tronqueira 1 (21.96 kms, 96% gravel, 4% asphalt)
14:34 – SS 13 – Grupo Marques Superspecial 2 (3.95 kms, 100% gravel)
15:40 – Service G – 30 mins (Ponta Delgada)

17:03 – SS 14 – Villa Franca – Sao Bras 2 (13.47 kms, 85% gravel, 15% asphalt)
17:58 – SS 15 – Graminhais 2 (21.01 kms, 92% gravel, 8% asphalt)
18:48 – SS 16 – Tronqueira 2 (21.96 kms, 96% gravel, 4% asphalt)
20:39 – Service H – 10 mins (Ponta Delgada)
20:56 – Ceremonial Finish (Ponta Delgada)