Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Łukasz Kurzeja (X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i) won the 18th edition of AKPOL Baja Poland, giving Hołowczyc a record 11th victory in the event. Michał Małuszyński and Julita Małuszyńska (Toyota Hilux EVO) finished second, 6min 36.1sec behind, with Adam Kuś and Maciej Giemza (Taurus EVO MAX) third, 7min 27.7sec off the lead.
The 18th edition of AKPOL Baja Poland concluded in Szczecin on Sunday, 30 August. This year’s event was the fourth round of the FIA European Baja Cup, the sixth round of the FIA Central European Zone Cross-Country Championship, the fifth round of the Polish Cross-Country Rally Championship and the third round of the Czech Cross-Country Rally Championship. The programme also featured the Cross Country Cup, the Polish Baja Rally Championship and Polish Baja Rally Cup, Can-Am Baja Promo and Baja Promo ATV.
FIA European Baja Cup competitors covered a total route of 646.23km. Five special stages accounted for 366.60 competitive kilometres, while a separate 8.85km Prologue was also held. The entry list brought together 194 competitors from 13 countries. A total of 81 vehicles – cars, trucks, motorcycles and quads – and 150 competitors reached the finish.
AKPOL Baja Poland began with Friday’s Prologue in Szczecin, where Kuś and Giemza set the fastest time. The Taurus EVO MAX crew completed the route in 7min 23.2sec, beating Hołowczyc and Kurzeja by 2.3 seconds and Benediktas Vanagas and Aisvydas Paliukenas (Toyota Hilux) by 5.1 seconds.
Although the Prologue did not count towards the overall rally classification, its results determined the order in which the leading drivers selected their starting positions for Saturday’s leg. For crews registered in the FIA European Baja Cup, it also awarded points towards the standings in their respective categories. Kuś chose fourth place on the road, while Hołowczyc and Kurzeja opened the road at the Drawsko Military Training Ground.
Saturday’s leg at the Drawsko Military Training Ground was the longest of this year’s rally, comprising three special stages and 314.44 competitive kilometres. Kuś and Giemza won the opening 128.40km test, beating Bartłomiej Kotwica and Arkadiusz Jędrzejewski (Taurus T3 Maxx) by 12.3 seconds and the Małuszyńskis by 22.2 seconds. Hołowczyc and Kurzeja stopped at kilometre 44 to change a wheel, losing around three minutes. Despite the delay, they set the fourth-fastest time, just 27.6 seconds behind the stage winners.
The X-raid crew stayed out of trouble on the second pass. Hołowczyc and Kurzeja covered the 128.40km stage in 1hr 18min 05.1sec, beating Vanagas and Paliukenas by 4min 18.1sec and the Małuszyńskis by 4min 38.6sec. The result took the ten-time Baja Poland winner from fourth place into the overall lead. Hołowczyc and Kurzeja were quickest again on Saturday’s final 57.64km stage and ended the leg 5min 51.7sec clear of the Małuszyńskis and 6min 50.7sec ahead of Kuś and Giemza.
Mārtiņš Sesks, making his cross-country rally debut alongside Didzis Zarins in the Bairons SRT Viking, did not complete Saturday’s leg. The Latvian crew began the day with the fifth-fastest time, but later damaged a steering component and a wheel. They rejoined on Sunday and were classified 21st overall.
“We hit a major compression and damaged the steering and the wheel, so we had to retire from Saturday’s leg. It was a tough but valuable lesson as we develop the Viking Challenger. We now know what needs improving. Overall, it was a very interesting experience and I hope to come back,” said Sesks.
Sunday’s finale featured two passes over the 26.08km Sławoszewo–Wołczkowo–Szczecin stage. Hołowczyc and Kurzeja won both. They beat Kuś and Giemza by 1.5 seconds on the first run and were 15.1 seconds faster than Mariusz Wiatr and Łukasz Łaskawiec (Ford F150 EVO+) on the second.
Hołowczyc and Kurzeja completed the rally in 3hr 57min 24.2sec. Four wins from five special stages carried them to the finish with a 6min 36.1sec advantage over the Małuszyńskis.
“Mission accomplished – we are at the finish and we have our 11th victory. It was not without adventure. We came close to not finishing several times, but the car held together. I think this rally likes me, and I love it,” said Hołowczyc.
The Małuszyńskis finished every special stage inside the top five. They placed third, third and second on Saturday’s three tests, building a margin that enabled them to defend second place during Sunday’s finale.
“I am delighted that we are at the finish and have ended the rally in second place. The car was fantastic to drive and performed very well, and the only person ahead of us is Krzysztof Hołowczyc,” said Michał Małuszyński.
Kuś and Giemza, winners of the Prologue and Saturday’s opening stage, also finished every special stage in the top five. Third overall brought them victory in the Challenger category.
“Everything went our way from the start. We maintained a good, consistent pace in the Prologue, at the Drawsko Military Training Ground and on Sunday’s short, very technical stages. Maciej and I have worked well together since our first rally and have developed a very good understanding,” said Kuś.
Vanagas and Paliukenas finished fourth overall, 7min 51.6sec behind the winners, and were the highest-placed crew among the regular FIA European Baja Cup contenders.
The Vilnius driver faced arguably the most dangerous moment of the rally shortly before reaching the finish, after completing the final special stage. A fire broke out in the Toyota when the crew stopped at the time control. It was quickly extinguished before it could spread and destroy the car.
“We lost the clutch around eight kilometres from the finish. A hydraulic line, which runs very close to the exhaust, had failed. When we stopped at the time control, hydraulic fluid hit the hot components and caught fire. We had a similar situation in Hungary last year, so we knew how to react. We put the fire out quickly and saved the car. Most importantly, we made it to the finish and the car survived. Fourth overall and finishing as the leading regular European Cup crew is a great result for us,” said Vanagas.
Wiatr and Łaskawiec finished fifth in their Ford F150 EVO+, 8min 36.9sec behind the winners, despite rolling on Saturday’s opening stage. Kotwica and Jędrzejewski took sixth in the Taurus T3 Maxx (+13min 44.7sec), ahead of Miroslav Zapletal and Marek Sýkora (Ford F150 EVO+, +15min 08.7sec) and Włodzimierz Grajek and Szymon Marciniak (Toyota Hilux GR, +17min 16.7sec). Marek Kubiczek and Dominik Ragiel (Taurus EVO MAX, +23min 07.9sec) and Robert Kufel and Maciej Chełmicki (Ford Ranger, +32min 07.6sec) rounded out the top 10.
The Polish Cross-Country Rally Championship podium mirrored the overall event order, with Hołowczyc and Kurzeja ahead of the Małuszyńskis and Kuś and Giemza. The FIA Central European Zone Cross-Country Championship and Czech Cross-Country Rally Championship classifications produced the same top three. Hołowczyc and Kurzeja also won the Ultimate category, while Kuś and Giemza prevailed in Challenger. Grzegorz Gąsiorowski and Katarzyna Szałęga (Polaris RZR Pro R) were the highest-placed SSV crew.
Andrzej Dzikowski and Damian Czekan (Can-Am Maverick) won the UTV category. Tomasz Piluch and Marcin Pawłowski (Mitsubishi Pajero) took Stock honours, while Piotr Brakowiecki and Tomasz Chmielewski (Dacia Duster) won TH. Dariusz Łysek, Darek Rodewald and Artur Janda (MM Technology MMT Dakar EVO 04) topped the Truck category.
Marcel Jędrzejewski and Michał Zoll (Polaris RZR Pro R Ultimate) won the Cross Country Cup classification. They began Sunday with a 6min 35.3sec advantage, but surrendered much of that cushion on the final stage before beating Piotr Cierzniewski and Jakub Brzeziński (Polaris RZR) by 1min 06.0sec. Szymon Bracha and Paweł Stawecki (Polaris RZR Pro R) were fastest on Sunday and finished third, 5min 39.6sec behind the winners.
Marcin Urbanowski and Władysław Barzdo (Can-Am Maverick R) won Can-Am Baja Promo, beating Łukasz Gajos and Sebastian Wach (Can-Am Maverick R) by 3min 12.8sec and Jędrzejewski and Zoll by 7min 56.2sec.
Kamil Piątek (GasGas EC450F) went into Sunday 54.2 seconds behind Marcin Talaga (GasGas 450) in the Polish Baja Rally Championship classification. Piątek beat his rival by 2min 30.4sec on the final stage to claim victory by 1min 36.2sec.
“Saturday’s opening stage did not go my way. I got a little lost on the route and lost a lot of time, so after that I went into ‘invincible mode’. I made up three minutes on the second stage and more than two on Sunday. I just had to trust myself, the motorcycle and the suspension,” said Piątek.
Third overall in the Polish Baja Rally Championship, Adam Krysiak (Polaris Scrambler) was the fastest quad rider. Paweł Nowakowski (Suzuki LTR) won the two-wheel-drive quad category. Jakub Żwirek (Polaris Scrambler 1000S) triumphed in the Polish Baja Rally Cup, beating Wojciech Biedron (Polaris Sportsman) by 3min 14.9sec and Sławomir Zamorski (Can-Am Outlander XTP 1000) by 12min 33.3sec. Grzegorz Biłka (Can-Am Outlander 1000R) won the Baja Promo ATV classification.
The next round of the Polish Cross-Country Rally Championship is the 45th Rajd Polskie Safari in Przasnysz on 9–11 October. FIA European Baja Cup competitors return to action in two weeks at Baja España Aragón on 10–13 September.
Source: Baja Poland
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
