Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak, currently third in the World Rally Championship standings, commence their fight in round six of the WRC calendar. Rally Italia Sardegna brings an uneasy task: after winning Rally Turkey, the Polish duo now compete against all frontrunners in their category! The battle will take place on almost 240 kilometres of special stages.
Sardinia has hosted the best rally competitors for 16 seasons. This year’s edition is based in Alghero, at the seaside, and the stages are located in north-western part of the island. This is the fourth event for the LOTOS Rally Team in the 2020 championship and after three rallies they hold an excellent third position in the WRC-3 standings.
– We have completed the shakedown but this was a mere formality because on Monday we had a chance to do some testing on similar road. We will use this experience to drive as fast as possible on the stages. We want to enjoy this rally. It is a very difficult event and it takes place at different time of the year. For sure it will influence the weather, tyre choices and, above all, the results. The organisers have prepared one new special stage and some new sections on previous tests. There are a lot more stones on the road, so you have to be cautious – especially as this rally has always been a sort of sprint event and there is no room for mistakes. We are optimistic, the car and tyres perform perfectly and we are smiling and willing to do our best
– says Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the LOTOS Rally Team driver.
Last year Kajetanowicz and Szczepaniak finished Rally Italia Sardegna in second position in their category. This time the competition starts on Friday, 9 October. The first loop consists of two stages, with two runs of each: SS1/3 Tempio Pausania (12.08 kms, at 7:50 and 10:40) and SS2/4 Erula – Tula (21.78 kms, at 8:44 and 11:34). After 40 minutes of service break in Alghero the crews will tackle two more tests: SS5 Sedini – Castelsardo (14.72 kms, at 16:14) and SS6 Tergu – Osilo (12.81 kms, at 16:59). The day ends with 45 minutes of service in the evening.
Saturday marks the longest leg of the rally. The day starts with another set of two stages, with two runs: SS7/9 Monte Lerno (the longest test of the rally: 22.08 kms, at 7:37 and 10:07) and SS8/10 Coiluna – Loelle (15.00 kms, at 8:38 and 11:08). These four stages will be followed by another service break and re-run of Friday’s second loop: SS11 Sedini – Castelsardo (14.72 kms, at 16:08) and SS12 Tergu – Osilo (12.81 kms, at 17:02). Saturday comes to an end with usual 45-minutes service break.
The final leg runs on Sunday, on just over 40 competitive kilometres: SS13/15 Cala Flumini (14.06 kms, at 8:15 and 10:10) and SS14/16 Sassari – Argentiera (6.89 kms, at 9:08 and 12:18) – with the second run contested as the Power Stage. The rally ends around 13:00.
Starts of Kajetan Kajetanowicz are supported by strategic partner of the LOTOS Rally Team – Grupa LOTOS – as well as Delphi Technologies, Driving Experience and Pirelli.
