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.
Baja Poland 2024: Drama of the favorites, Portuguese the fastest
Automatic translation of the Polish version
Source: Baja Poland
Photo: X-Raid
The 16th edition of Baja Poland - Poland's most important, most difficult and most prestigious off-road rally - has begun. The opening special section in Szczecin (9.4 km) was credited to the account of the Portuguese - Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro (Mini John Cooper Works Rally+). Unluckily, the first day of the rally ended with one of the most serious candidates for victory - Krzysztof Holowczyc and Łukasz Kurzeja (BMW X3). There was an engine failure in the car of the nine-time triumpher of the event.
In addition to World Cup competitors, the Columna Medica Baja Poland is also contested by participants in the Polish Championship (RMPST), the Czech Championship (MMCR) and the Central European Zone Championship (FIA CEZ). Motorcyclists and quad riders, competing in the Polish Baja Rally Championship (MPRB) and the Polish Baja Rally Cup (PPRB), also took to the track. The event organized by the Baja Poland Foundation is also part of the Can-Am Baja Promo series. This unique initiative provides off-road driving enthusiasts with the opportunity to test and hone their skills at organized events and on secured routes.
Surprise at the track
Before the actual part of the competition began, the competitors had one last opportunity to test their pace and vehicles during the test section. The nearly 6-kilometer route was set in the wilderness of the Dobra municipality. Jakub Brzezinski and Szymon Marciniak (BRP Can-Am Maverick X3) needed the least amount of time to cover this distance. Brzezinski, vice-champion of Poland in road rallies (2016), is making his debut as a driver in Columna Medica Baja Poland. The 38-year-old was faster than, among others, Yazeed Al-Rajhi (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) - the runner-up in World Cup points. The Saudi, piloted by Timo-Gottschalk, lost 2.2 seconds to the Poles. The third result was achieved by Portuguese drivers Alexandre Pinto and Bernando Oliveira (Can-Am Maverick X3), slower than Brzezinski by 2.5 s.
The top five of the warm-up also included competitors known for their performances in other disciplines or vehicles. Fourth place went to Michal Kosciuszko - a participant in many WRC and RSMP rounds (Polaris RZR Pro R, +3.0 s), piloted by Artur Kordala. They were followed by Maciej Giemza and Rafał Marton (Polaris RZR Pro R, +6.5 s). Giemza, the current Polish championship points leader, has competed on a motorcycle in previous seasons.
Portuguese dictate the pace
At 3pm the competition began on the prologue in Szczecin, popular among fans. This year the section located in the northwestern part of the city became even more spectacular, thanks to a mound on which the competitors made spectacular jumps.
The first to set off on the 9.4-kilometer route were motorcyclists and quad riders. The fastest at the finish line was Bartlomiej Tabin (KTM EXC). Adam Krysiak, using a Polaris Scrambler, was the best among all-wheel-drive quad riders.
Among PPRB participants, Rafal Kazmierczyk (KTM EXC-F 500) topped the table with times. The motorcyclist was 24.3 seconds faster than the best of the quad riders in the PPRB, namely Przemyslaw Majerski (Polaris Scrambler 1000S).
An hour after the single-track and quad drivers, crews in cars began their struggle. In the first clash, Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro (Mini John Cooper Works Rally+) did best. For the Portuguese, this is their second career start in Baja Poland. The Saudi-German duo Yazeed Al-Rajhi/Timo Gottschalk (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) finished the prologue in second place, losing 9.1 seconds to the winners. Maciej Giemza and Rafał Marton - authors of the third time (Polaris RZR Pro R, +13.3 s), the fastest in the national championship and in the SSV class - flashed great form. Michal and Julita Maluszyński in (Mini John Cooper Works Rally+) finished the test with the fourth result. Their result was 13.9 seconds worse than the winners of the trial. The top five was closed by Spaniards Eduardo Pons and Jaume Betriu (Taurus T3 Max, +25.9 s).
The prologue ended on a disappointing note for Krzysztof Holowczyc and Lukasz Kurzea. Unlike in previous years, the driver from Olsztyn did not decide to start with the fastest and most advanced design from the T1+ group, i.e. the kind of Mini he drove in this year's Dakar Rally. “Holek” opted for the BMW X3, an older design that he competes in, among other rounds of the Polish championship. And it was this car that disappointed the nine-time Baja Poland triumpher. About 3 km before the finish line there was an engine failure, so the start of Holowczyc and Kurzei in Saturday's stage of the competition is in question.
Michal and Nikola Lipscy (Dacia Duster) cranked out the best time in the Stock group, intended for crews in stock cars - with severely limited modifications. Jacek Soboń with Kacper Jeneralski (Nissan Navara D40) are the winners of the prologue in the TH group.
Among crews in trucks, the Czech trio Valtr/Pasek/Hyl (Iveco Powerstar Torpedo) beat their rivals.
- WWW: www.bajapoland.eu
- Facebook: @bajapolandworldcup
- Instagram: @bajapoland
Automatic translation of the Polish version
Source: Baja Poland
Photo: X-Raid
Helder