Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak have completed the opening Saturday’s loop of Rally Portugal. The Polish crew maintain good and consistent pace, holding their top five position in the WRC2 Challenger standings.
The crews contested three special stages on Saturday morning, including the longest test of the rally – Amarante (22.10 kms). The ORLEN Rally Team duo continued their assured and faultless performance. Although this is their second outing in a new car, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, they hold fifth position in the WRC2 Challenger standings. It is worth remembering that almost 40 crews compete in this category in Rally Portugal. Plenty of rally fans follow the incredible action, including many supporters from Poland.
– I am feeling good behind the steering wheel, although it clearly requires great commitment. Right now we are in fifth position in the WRC2 Challenger category, among over thirty crews, so it is okay. My feeling gets better, I am getting to know the car and tyres, which work in a slightly different way. Difference between hard and soft compound is not as big as in previous years. Our car performs well, the crew as well. However, short night made it a bit tougher. Usually I don’t sleep long but I can’t remember such a short sleep. Following very long Friday, when we spent 16 hours in the car, we started the engine after six in the morning today. It is a demanding rally. My hands hurt after hard work with steering wheel but wide smile remains on my face
– Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the ORLEN Rally Team driver, commented on Saturday.
After the service break the crews will repeat the same set of three stages: Vieira do Minho (17.69 kms), Cabeceiras de Basto (19.91 kms) and Amarante (22.10 kms) test. The day ends with a short Lousada stage (3.52 kms), contested on a rallycross circuit.
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.
Rally Portugal, unofficial WRC2 Challenger classification after SS14:
- Korhonen/Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 2:26:46.7
- Cachón/Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +58.9
- Solans/Sanjuan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1:04.9
- Daprà/Beltrame (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:25.0
- Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1:49.4
- Heikkilä/Temonen (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:54.7
- M. Bulacia/Vallejo (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +2:40.4
- Jürgenson/Oja (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +3:16.5
- Zaldivar/Der Ohannesian (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +3:28.1
- Kogure/Luhtinen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +5:10.6
