Day two of Rally Portugal, round five of the 2025 World Rally Championship, has come to an end. Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak compete in record-breaking WRC2 Challenger field – unfortunately, on the afternoon loop they had a puncture and lost some time.
The ORLEN Rally Team duo started the second loop in fifth position in their category. Although their new car still has its secrets. they already show great performance, competing agains over thirty crews. Unfortunately, they reached the finish line of special stage number sixteen with a puncture, losing two places. Kajetanowicz and Szczepaniak hol seventh place in the WRC2 Challenger standings ahead of the final leg.
– I would love to say that everything was okay but this time it wasn’t the case. We punctured a tyre – it does not happen often to us but such problems are more likely on rough roads. We finished the stage with this puncture and it paid off, although it was a bit risky. Wheel rim and suspension held together for over 12 kilometres on flat tyre. There are also positive things – I feel the car better and I know more. For example, not to choose tyres in a way I did it for the second loop. Yesterday soft compound worked on the second loop and you could see it in stage times but today this choice was not correct. The stages were different, although they seemed to be even more sandy, and weather conditions remained similar. Well, we learn about these new tyres all the time. This is our second rally with them. The same with our car – but I gained more experience and my attitude is still positive. Now we are facing 70 kilometres of demanding stages on Sunday. We need to keep our concentration, although we are already tired. Just like everyone, we had little time to sleep and days were very long. However, we are still smiling and doing our job. It’s time for legendary Fafe tomorrow, I can’t wait!
– Kajetan Kajetanowicz, triple European Rally Champion, summed up the day.
Two runs of three special stages are planned for Sunday: Paredes (16.09 kms), Felgueiras (8.81 kms) and probably the most famous test of the whole rally, Fafe (11.18 kms) – with a unique jump towards the end.
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 SS18:
- Korhonen/Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 3:09:37.3
- Solans/Sanjuan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1:21.8
- Cachón/Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +1:30.2
- Daprà/Beltrame (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:53.7
- Heikkilä/Temonen (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:34.7
- M. Bulacia/Vallejo (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +2:58.9
- Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +3:49.0
- Jürgenson/Oja (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +4:15.1
- Zaldivar/Der Ohannesian (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +7:05.8
- L. Rossel/Mercoiret (Citroën C3 Rally2) +7:06.1
