The opening day of Rally Italia Sardegna, round six of the 2024 World Rally Championship, is done and dusted. The competitors completed two runs of two special stages, including the longest test of the whole rally – over 25-kms Osilo-Tergu stage. After difficult start, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak improved their pace, moving up the WRC2 Challenger standings. They hold eleventh position at the end of the day.
The Polish crew started with fourteenth-fastest result on the opening test, before improving to sixth, ninth and fifth-fastest times on following stages. The ORLEN Rally Team driver worked on the set-up of his car throughout the day, trying to set better stage times. Now it is time for Saturday, with almost double distance to cover – and without any service break. This leg might prove to be a crucial part of the competition.
– It was a long day without service break, so together with Maciek we had to change the set-up by ourselves – as much as we are able to do. I am feeling better in the car but I was definitely sleeping through the first stage. My feeling was bad and I did not want to risk too much. It turned out that we did not choose a right direction during our pre-event test. When you know the stage, when you pass it not for the first time, it is a bit easier – and I drove the opening stage for the first time, unlike many other competitors. It was not easy but we managed to improve the set-up and our pace was faster. It’s getting better. Tomorrow we have a long day without service, so we need to take right decisions with our engineer. I think it’s going to be okay. The most important thing is that I enjoy driving more and I am smiling more
– Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the WRC2 Challenger champion, said after Friday.
Saturday’s leg starts at 7:41 CET with Tempio Pausania 1 test (12.03 kms). Afterwards the crews head to Tula-Erula 1 (22.61 kms) stage and then repeat both stages. Midway through the day, after 13 CET, they will visit the tyre fitting zone, before completing two runs of Monte Lerno (25.31 kms) and Coiluna-Loelle (14.53 kms) stages.
Starts of Kajetan Kajetanowicz are supported by the title partner of the ORLEN Rally Team – ORLEN S.A., as well as technical partner Delphi, Pirelli, ORLEN OIL, ATC CARGO S.A. and SJS S.A.
