The crews competing in Rally Chile have completed three special stages of the opening loop. Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak enjoyed a positive start of the event, holding third position in the WRC2 Challenger standings!
The opening stage of the rally was cancelled on safety grounds and most of the crews did not have a chance to set a competitive time, running through the test in road section mode. The ORLEN Rally Team crew claimed fourth-fastest result on the following Rere test (13.34 kms), finishing the loop with a top-three time on the longest stage of the rally, San Rosendo (23.32 kms). They ended the first part of the day in third position in the WRC2 Challenger classification. The gravel roads remain dry but very slippery and many drivers encountered some problems on the way – including eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, who had to stop and change a wheel after going off the road.
– The opening loop of Rally Chile is completed. It’s very fast and narrow, so you need perfect feeling and that’s my goal. I hope to get it on the second loop. It’s been good, although it would be great to have more kilometres on this type of roads: fast and narrow at the same time. During Rally Poland we proved that on wider road we can slide for 200 metres, doing 160 kph. Long and deep slides are not possible here because it’s so narrow – this is the difference, although these roads are also very fast. I enjoy my driving and I hope to get even more joy. There are plenty of fans along the stages and the opening test was cancelled because of their safety – they were standing in dangerous places. However, it’s great to have them here – they prove that rallies are very popular!
– says Kajetan Kajetanowicz, triple European Rally Champion.
The afternoon loop consists of the same set of three stages, beginning with SS4 Pulperia 2 (19.72 kms, start at 19:46 CET). Another two tests start at 20:41 CET (SS5 Rere) and 21:32 CET (SS6 San Rosendo).
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.
Rally Chile, unofficial results after SS3 (WRC2 Challenger):
- Gryazin/Aleksandrov (Citroën C3 Rally2) 30:25.4
- Solans/Sanjuan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +18.4
- Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +28.8
- Zaldivar/Der Ohannesian (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +33.9
- Scuncio/Roman (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +37.4
- Martínez/Alvarez (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +46.2
- P. Heller/Olmos (Citroën C3 Rally2) +50.2
- A. Heller/Allende (Citroën C3 Rally2) +50.4
- V. Rosselot/Brizio (Citroën C3 Rally2) +52.5
- E. Rosselot/Cañete (Citroën C3 Rally2) +1:05.8
