The ORLEN Rally Team crew impress with their pace during Safari Rally Kenya. Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak won another two stages in the WRC2 Challenger category and hold commanding lead in the standings, being also the fastest crew among all Rally2 cars!
Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak completed second loop of Friday’s leg at Safari Rally in great style. The Polish duo started with second-fastest WRC2 Challenger result on 31.4-kms Camp Moran 2 stage and won following two tests: Loldia 2 (19.11 kms) and Kengen Geothermal (13.18 kms). After setting third-quickest time on the final stage of the day, they regained the lead in the WRC2 category. Solberg and Edmondson, rally leaders until stage number seven, lost their battle in challenging conditions of Kenyan WRC encounter, getting stuck in sand.
– I am feeling good in my new car. As you can see, Toyota has potential. I am happy to win special stages at times, already in our first rally with this car. However, I stay on the safe side all the time, although I am taking a bit more risk than in past years. The pace of Safari Rally is crazy but probably everyone drives faster than previously. There are more quick drivers and it means that the bar is set higher. The best thing for me is that we completed a very difficult leg. We are leading the WRC2 Challenger category, in which we compete, but also the overall WRC2 standings. The feeling is good and I hope it remains with us. The road ahead is still long
– Kajetan Kajetanowicz, triple European Rally Champion, commented after Friday.
Over 146 competitive kilometres await the crews on Saturday. The day begins with iconic Sleeping Warrior stage (26.97 kms), which starts at 6:35 CET. Afterwards the competitors will tackle SS12 Elmenteita 1 (17.31 kms) and SS13 Soysambu 1 (28.97 kms). Following the midday service break, the crews will repeat the same set of 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 and ORLEN OIL.
Safari Rally Kenya, unofficial WRC2 Challenger classification after SS10:
- Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 2:06:39,2
- Solans/Sanjuan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +40.3
- Zaldivar/Der Ohannesian (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +3:39.8
- Domínguez/Peñate (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +7:00.9
- Chwist/Heller (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +11:29.6
- Tundo/Jessop (Ford Fiesta R5) +16:51.5
- Wahome/Okundi (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +54:01.6
- Díaz-Aboitiz/Ibáñez Sotos (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +56:11.6
- Singh/Sturrock (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +1:12:40.4
- Anwar/Din (Ford Fiesta R5) +1:21:43.8
