- The LOTOS Rally Team crew hold second position after the opening loop of Rally Islas Canarias;
- Kajetanowicz and Baran recorded runner-up times on two special stages;
- The fight goes on – still three stages to go today.
The LOTOS Rally Team crew show great pace on special stages of Rally Islas Canarias and after the opening loop, consisting of three extremely demanding tests, they are classified right behind the overall leaders. Fight on twisty and fast asphalt roads of the Canary Islands is very tight: Kajetanowicz and Baran trail the leaders by just 2.5 seconds. The level of competition is highlighted by the fact that after over 55 kilometres of special stages top ten crews in overall standings are separated by only 26 seconds!
The event in Gran Canaria is another exotic round of the 2017 FIA European Rally Championship. Kajto fights not only against local rally heroes but also against drivers from seventeen other countries, including large contingent of his fellow countrymen. Huge crowds watch the competition, supporting vigorously the LOTOS Rally Team crew on their way to third consecutive Championship title.
The day started with long, over 25-kms San Mateo test, where Kajetanowicz went second fastest. He recorded similar result on the following stage, Artenara (14.79 kms). After the third test, Lomo del Palo (15.14 kms), the Polish driver holds second position with slender gap of 2.5 seconds to Alexey Lukyanuk (Russia, Ford Fiesta R5). The following group consists of the Spanish competitors: José António Suárez (+9.3 secs, Peugeot 208 T16 R5), José María López (+14,0 secs, Peugeot 208 T16) and Iván Ares (+14.8 secs, Hyundai i20 R5). Top six is completed by the current FIA ERC points leader Bruno Magalhaes (+15.2 secs, Skoda Fabia R5).
There are still three stages to go today, beginning with another run of San Mateo. Afterwards the crews will tackle Mirador de Artenara (14.38 kms) and superspecial Las Palmas De Gran Canaria (3.30 kms).
Kajetan Kajetanowicz:
– We have completed the opening loop, consisting of three special stages. The first one was very long: over 25 kilometres of twisty, difficult and challenging asphalt – tough for tyres and brakes alike. Many drivers lost them because there are plenty of downhill sections followed by hard braking for tight corners. Brakes have to cope with huge loads, the same with tyres. During this rally you have to think a lot about it, while driving. Many rally fans watch our fight and we are very happy with that. We are in second position, with narrow gap to the leaders, and we are trying to take as many positive things as possible out of this rally.
Classification after SS3 of Rally Islas Canarias, round two of the 2017 FIA ERC:
1. Lukyanuk/Arnautov (Russia, Ford Fiesta R5) 18:44.3
2. Kajetanowicz/Baran (Poland, Ford Fiesta R5) +2.5 s
3. Suárez/Carrera (Spain, Peugeot 208 T16 R5) +9.3 s
4. López/Rozada (Spain, Peugeot 206 T16 R5) +14.0 s
5. Ares/Pintor (Spain, Hyundai i20 R5) +14,8 s
6. Magalhães/Magalhães (Portugal, Skoda Fabia R5) +15.2 s
7. Monzón/Deniz (Spain, Ford Fiesta R5) +19.0 s
8. Garcia/Gonzalez (Spain, Ford Fiesta R5) +21,4 s
9. Michel/Degout (France, Skoda Fabia R5) +22,0 s
10. Grzyb/Zawada (Poland, Skoda Fabia R5) +25.8 s
Starts of Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran are supported by strategic partner of LOTOS Rally Team – LOTOS Group – as well as CUBE.ITG, Delphi and Driving Experience. More info about Kajetan Kajetanowicz and the team available at: www.lotosrallyteam.pl, www.kajto.pl, www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna, www.facebook.com/KajetanKajetanowicz and www.twitter.com/Kajto_pl
