Baja Poland 2019: Holowczyc increases his lead in ORLEN Baja Poland

Krzysztof Holowczyc and Lukasz Kurzeja (MINI John Cooper Works Rally) are about to begin Sunday’s leg of ORLEN Baja Poland as rally leaders, holding 6,5-minute advantage over second-placed Przygonski and Gottschalk. Holowczyc is in the lead, after he won both runs of 220-kilometre test in Drawsko Pomorskie. Third place belongs to Russian duo Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhilcov. The crew in Overdrive-run Toyota Hilux is already over 17 minutes behind Holowczyc.

Second part of the battle at the military range in Drawsko Pomorskie was a way more equal than first one. After 220 kilometres of fierce competition Przygonski finished the stage only a minute behind Holowczyc, who claimed his second stage victory today. ORLEN Team driver had a chance to reduce the gap, but he could not chase Holowczyc due to gearbox issues. Przygonski suffered problems with third gear which is used very often on sandy and soft surface of military range in Drawsko Pomorskie. It was even more likely to outpace the rally leader, as the engine in Holowczyc’s MINI stopped working twice and five-time winner of ORLEN Baja Poland needed to stop to change the wheel after a puncture. This is why Holowczyc was 7 minutes slower in second run of the stage at the military range. Another reason was the condition of the roads, which were seriously destroyed after first pass, with many ruts and stones. 
Russian crew – Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhilcov clocked third fastest time during both runs of Drawsko Pomorskie test. Thanks to this result they hold third place overall with comfortable lead over Miroslav Zapletal and Marek Sykora in Ford F150 Evo. 
Czech-Slovak duo moved up to fourth overall, beating Maluszynski/Maluszynska crew (MINI John Cooper Works Rally). 

Among motorcycle riders it is Tiago Santos who leads the rally. Portuguese driver holds nearly 2-minutes advantage over Adam Tomiczek. Third-placed Maciej Giemza is already three minutes behind Santos. Today, motorcycle riders competed in Drawsko only once, as second run of this stage was cancelled both for them and quad drivers. Marcin Talaga tops the leaderboard in quad category, while Remigiusz Kusy is just 7 seconds adrift of first place.

ORLEN Baja Poland 2019 – FIA World Cup standings after SS3
1. Hołowczyc/Kurzeja (POL/POL, MINI John Cooper Works Rally) 4:50:03,7 s
2. Przygoński/Gottschalk (POL/GER, MINI John Cooper Works Rally) +6:24,5 s
3. Vasilyev/Zhilcov (RUS/RUS, Toyota Hilux Overdrive) +17:27,0 s
4. Zapletal/Sykora (CZE/SVK, Ford F150 Evo) +22:49,1 s
5. Małuszyński/Małuszyńska (POL/POL, MINI John Cooper Works Rally) +22:59,2 s
6. Grajek/Brakowiecki (POL/POL, BMW X5) +49:55,1 s
7. Navarro/Sola (ESP/ESP, Can-Am Maverick X3) +1:06:31,2 s
8. Vorobyev/Shubin (RUS/RUS, Can-Am Maverick X3) +1:08:32,5 s
9. Vilcāns/Vilcāne (LVA/LVA, Toyota Land Cruiser VDJ200) +1:57:59,3 s
10. Vanagas/Rozwadowski (LTU/POL, Toyota Hilux Overdrive) +5:52:30,3 s

Source Baja Poland official site