18 Rajd Dolnośląski 2008: Bouffier wins but controversy for Kuzaj and the final results are provisional
Bouffier wins Dolnoslaski Rally, but results are still unofficial
Bryan Bouffier secured his second Polish Championship title arleady after the Orlen
Rally, but the French driver also came to the Dolnoslaski Rally (Klodzko, 9-11
x), final round. "Real Champions fight till the end" - declared Peugeot
Sport Poland in its pre-rally press release. And Bryan proved, that he is a real
champion and won the rally without any problems. The rally also decided second
place in the championship - as expected, Kajetan Kajetanowicz was the best
Polish driver this year. However the results are still unofficial, after a scandal
on SS3.
Super Special:
The Dolnoslaski Rally was part of the Polish Championship for the first time
since 2002. Back then it was a winter round and the traditional start of the
season - now it's another tarmac rally. Those old classic stages - with most
famous Spalona - were also used in Rally Poland, which was held here until
2005, when it switched to gravel.
The usual drivers were present on the start list - three 207's (Bouffier, Kuchar,
Kuzaj) and some fast N-group drivers in Lancers (Kajetanowicz, Bebenek,
Dytko), as well as Partik Flodin in an Impreza N14. Tomasz Czopik, 2003 Polish
Champion, was again in Lancer and sayng goodbye to the fans - Czopik decided
to finish his career after this rally. Michal Solowow had to skip
Dolnoslaski, as he was preparing for the Antibes Rallye.
The rally started in Klodzko and the crowds could admire rally the cars on thursday evening at the superspecial. Stage winner was Tomasz Kuchar, who is known as
superspecial specialist.
Friday morning welcomed the drivers with thick fog and light rain. Conditions
were dreadful, but Bouffier didn't have any problems, winning all the
stages. The real suprise was from of Tomasz Kuchar. The driver from Wroclaw
couldn't get to the grips with 207 in previous rallies, but now he was fast
right form the start. Flodin had a puncture, chandged a wheel on stage and
was out of contendion.
Leszek Kuzaj in another 207 was third - but then came SS 3. Kuzaj was first
on the road and on a fast section he came out of the bend and saw two scooters
driving right at him! Kuzaj turned to the other side of the road - just to
find himself in front of group of kids running on the side of SS. Luckily,
Kuzi avoided them, but he got a pucture on this stage, and lost three
places. He was fourious with the terrible lack of marshals. The second run of
this stage was cancelled, but the case wasn't over yet.
In the afternoon Bryan yet again won every single stage, but Kuchar was
still pretty close. So was Kuzaj, who was catching up after SS 3. Wheather
got better and there was even some sun on the stages.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Michal Bebenek had their own fight - for second
place in the championship. Kajetanowicz was 7 points ahead, so he was quite
calm, but sill very fast and third overall after day 1. Bebenek meanwile had a
puncture and his hopes almost disappeard. Kuzaj was fifth.
But Kuzaj came to the stewards meeting and claimed, that his puncture on SS
3 was a result of insufficient security. Stewards after hearing decided,
that he was right and gave him a notional time on that stage. Therefore Kuzaj
was back in third, in front of Kajetanowicz, and could battle for the win.
The second day, also with eight stages, was a bit easier - the weather was good and the stages less demanding. But still it was tricky, especialy on stage 11/15,
which was running in a forest and was damp in some places.
Leg 1:
Bouffier had a moment of drama on SS10, when a deer came on a road just in
front of his Peugeot. Bryan couldn't do anything and hit the poor animal.
Luckily the car took was undamaged and Bryan won this stage, as well as the rest in this loop. SS10 was also hot for Kajetawicz and Bêbenek- both could end the
rally on the same points. Kajetan had more luck, but Michal spent some time
in a ditch and lost 5th position.
Bryan, who is usulally very bored on the last leg, had a pretty eventful
Saturday, as he was stoped by police on a liason section in the afternoon. He was
3 mins late at the time control, got 30s penalty and was running second on the
road. His lead was big enough to come home safely and claim fifth win this
year.
Kuchar without serious problems took second place, but he was more satisfied
with better pace than a result itself. Kuzaj was third and pretty happy to
finish a rally for a first time since May. He picked up a 10s penalty after
cutting a chicane, and also complained a of a down on power engine.
Kajetan took 4th place and finished the championship as best Polish driver.
"Kajto" was very happy to reach finish, because on last loop he drove slowly
with no brakes. Bêbenek was 5th and reconciled himself with
3rd place in standings.
Pawel Dytko was 6th and already said, that he wants to use an Evo X next year.
Mariusz Stec (Lancer Evo IX) and Szymon Ruta (Impreza N12) took 7th and 8th
spot.
But the rally was't finished yet. Stewards had another meeting and decided that Kuzaj's puncture on SS3 wasn't the result of meeting scooter's on the stage, butand it was picked much later. Therefore they cancelled the previous decision and Kuzaj's original time was retained.
Leg 2:
Kuzaj is angry with the situation and his team has appealed against this
decision. Therefore the results are still unofficial and will by decided by ASN.
Kuzaj is fighting on principle - no matter which time will finally be
taken, he will be third.
So the unfortunate Polish Rally Championship season has finished with another
scandal. But most of the drivers will meet again in Warsaw. The Polish capitol,
every December, hosts the traditional season finale - Barborka Warszawska, a short but very prestigious rally.
Article: Witold Zygmunt, Rallyonline.pl / MotoplANETA.PL
Images: Kukasz Koziarski
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