Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak have completed two days of competition in Acropolis Rally, leaving behind all WRC2 Challenger field. However, there is still one leg to go – unusually long Sunday.
Over the course of Saturday’s afternoon the crews competing in Acropolis Rally of Gods tackled the same set of three stages which they completed in the morning.
Second runs were by no means easier. Conditions on previously damaged roads were even worse. On top of that, rising temperatures increased drivers’ fatigue and Greek gods threatened them with possible thunderstorms. Weather forecasts made the tyre choices even more difficult.
Kajetanowicz and Szczepaniak continued with their plan, maintaining fast but reasonable pace and keeping their advantage under control. The main challenge was to properly manage the tyres, “eaten” excessively on rough surface. Experienced Kajto, with two overall Acropolis wins under his belt, knew how to take care of his rubber. The ORLEN Rally Team crew completed all stages without any problem, keeping a commanding lead in the WRC2 Challenger category ahead of the final day. The Polish duo hold third position in the overall WRC2 standings.
Leg two of intensive competition in Acropolis Rally is already behind us. We have been leading since day one, so we should be happy. On the other hand we must stay focused all the time, as everything can happen here. Our advantage over the field during other rally, for example on tarmac, would seem safe, however. .. First of all, this is rally. Secondly, this is Acropolis Rally. I need to catch a good sleep, to keep my concentration and to be ready for fight all the time, together with the whole ORLEN Rally Team. I am very happy to be here. There are many fans from Poland around us, white and red flags are everywhere on the stages. For sure we feel motivation, happiness and inspiration to improve all the time. It’s great, many thanks to all of you!
– Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the 2023 WRC2 Challenger champion, commented after Saturday.
The final leg of round seven of the season consists of two repeated stages – this year’s novelty Smokovo (26.16 kms) and iconic Tarzan (23.37 kms) – which add up to 100 competitive kilometres. This is the longest Sunday so far this season.
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.
Acropolis Rally Greece, unofficial WRC2 Challenger classification after SS13:
- Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 3:05:16,1
- Cachón/Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1:18,9
- Prokop/Ernst (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:56,0
- Virves/Viilo (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +5:49,1
- M. Bulacia/Vallejo (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +6:08,1
- Solans/Sanjuan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +6:16,5
- Rossel/Mercoiret (Citroën C3 Rally2) +8:50,5
- Joona/Vaaleri (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +9:30,8
- Daprà/Guglielmetti (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +10:18,6
- Al-Kuwari/Gospodarczyk (Citroën C3 Rally2) +13:51,8
