The penultimate leg 4 of Balkan Offroad 2023 offered new routes in the high mountains near the renowned "Transalpina" road, reaching elevations as high as 1850 meters. There were 280 kilometers for the Cross-Country category, with 131 of them as timed sections. For the Extreme there were only 63 kilometers against the clock, but as usually, from hard to harder.
Starting with the ATV class, there were the only changings in the general standings as a result of hard Polish battle. Marcin Wilkolek won the stage in front of his team-mate in Polaris Polska Adam Krysiak. Third for the day was the Frenchman Yoann Verly, also with Polaris. The best time allowed Wilkolek to step up on the top of the provisional rankings, where he is in front of his other team-mate and compatriot Ireneusz Ostafin, with 2 minutes advance. Third is Krysiak, but almost half an hour behind the leader.
Poland is the leading country also in the bike class, as Krzysztof Jarmuz (KTM) claimed another stage win. He finished with comfortable 9 minutes advance to Edvard Sokolovskij (KTM), and 8 more to Vytautas Radzevicius (KTM), both from Lithuania. In the overall, Jarmuz is leading to Radzevicius with more than enough 34 minutes, which can grant him the title of Balkan Offroad Rallye 2023 if everything is according to the plans. Top 3 in the general rankings is completed by Gunter Sannen (KTM, 7th on the stage) from Belgium, who, in turn, is half an hour behind the Lithuanian.
Dalius Olechnavicius (Can Am) is attacking the overall win in the SSV class with a stage win. The Lithuanian finished with tiny 25 seconds advance to Ainar Susts (Polaris) from Austria and 1:23 min. to Murat Kapanoglu (Can Am). Olechnavicius climbed to the second place in the overall, where he is some 7 minutes behind Kapanoglu from Bulgaria. Third in the class for the moment is Zoltan Garamvoelgyi (Can Am) from Hungary, who took the 5th place for the day.
The Hungarian is only 9 seconds behind Olechnavicius and less than 2 minutes in front of Marcin Graczyk (Can Am, 4th in the stage). And this means that everything will be decided, including the victory, at the very last finish line of Balkan Offroad Rallye 2023.
I’s a totally different situation in the Car Cross-Country class, where the well-known rally-raid veteran Miroslav Zapletal (Ford F-150) is heading to his first title in Balkan Offroad Rallye. The Czech pilot clinched another stage win, beating the German legend Frank Stensky (Lensson Mercedes) with more than 7 minutes. Third for the day was Christian Femont (Nissan Red Lined) from Belgium with more than 12 minutes passive to Zapletal.
In the general standings, Zapletal has comfortable 53 minutes advance to Vincent Vroninks (Nissan Red Lined, 8th for the day). But there will be for sure battle for the second place, as Stensky is 6 minutes behind the pilot form Belgium.
It was once again Hardo Mere (HM7 Proto), who take the daily win in the Extreme category. But this time, the Estonian managed with only 43 seconds to his fellow countryman Tarvo Klaasimae (Honda Proto). The Baltic country is total occupant of the podium, as Rainer Ruutli (JP5 Proto) finished on the 3rd place. This is the situation also in the overall, where we expect the Estonians to be crowned as the big tripple winners.
If you think that (almost) everything is decided, keep in mind that the last day of Balkan Offroad Rallye will offer 186 kilometers special stage through high-speed dirt tracks amidst the fields in the picturesque Valley of Alba Iulia for the Cross-Country category. This long section can change many things, especially if some rain comes and changes the fast tracks to a challenging off-road adventure. Plus, the tricky navigation, which always is a part of the Balkan Offroad game.
It will be also a challenge for the Extreme category, where the competitors will face another full-scale racing day with special stage of 66 kilometers and lots of obstacles on their way to the finish line. After the amazing last day, we will know who will be the new kings of Transylvania.
Source RBI
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