Just 5.6 seconds separate Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak from the WRC2 and WRC2 Challenger leaders after day one of Central European Rally. The ORLEN Rally Team crew started the event in very good style, setting second- and four-fastest times on Thursday’s special stages. The competitors enjoy exciting support from thousands of fans along the route, including many supporters from Poland.
It was a long day, although without too many kilometres of actual racing. Thursday started with official shakedown and afterwards the crews drove to Hradčany, the royal district of Prague, where a unique starting ceremony took place. Two stages were run in the afternoon – starting with a short SSS Velká Chuchle (2.55 kms), followed by SS2 Klatovy (11.78 kms) in the evening. Kajetanowicz and Szczepaniak went second-fastest on the opening stage, trailing the quickest crew by just 0.9 seconds, adding fourth-fastest result on the next test. The Polish duo hold fourth position at the end of day one, only 5.6 seconds behind the leaders and 1.5 seconds behind the final podium spot.
– We have covered almost fifteen kilometres of Central European Rally, with nearly 300 kilometres still ahead of us, so there is a lot to do. I have to check my set-up, as I drove my previous tarmac rally a long time ago. We chose completely different tyre combination for the second stage, compared to other frontrunners. It worked OK but I am not sure if it was a correct choice. I need to analyse, to think it over. Friday will be long, with two demanding loops ahead of us. Temperatures will change for sure, maybe some fog could appear. I hope we can find better set-up, although the current one is not bad. My feeling is good, I enjoy my driving. I think it is important on those fast stages. Many rivals are behind us after day one and it is a good result after such break. I will sleep well
– Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the reigning WRC2 Challenger champion, commented after day one.
There are six stages planned for Friday, with total length of over 110 kilometres. The crews start with second pass of SS Klatovy (11.78 kms), at 8:02 CET. Afterwards they will head to SS4 Strašín 1 (26.69 kms, at 9:32 CET), SS5 Šumavské Hoštice 1 (16.85 kms, at 10:42 CET) and another pass of SS Klatovy (11.78 kms, at 13:11 CET). After remote service zone, two more stages await: SS Strašín (at 16:14 CET) and SS Šumavské Hoštice (at 17:24 CET).
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 SS6 (WRC2 Challenger):
- Gryazin/Aleksandrov (Citroën C3 Rally2) 8:17.1
- Mareš/Bucha (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1.7
- Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +4.1
- Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +5.6
- Griebel/Braun (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +10.5
- McErlean/Fulton (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +12.1
- Creighton/Regan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +20.8
- Potty/Herman (Citroën C3 Rally2) +21.5
- Kremer/Kremer (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +31.0
- Cvrček/Těšínský (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +34.3
