The Karkonoski Rally, was held for the first time since 2002. It's one of classic Polish Rallies, and competitors were delighted with the comeback of this beautiful and very demanding tarmac stages situated in the Karkonosze Mountains. Bryan Bouffier after the recce said, "it's the most beautiful rally of the season."

 

Just before the start Leszek Kuzaj and Michał Sołowow (both 207 S2000) annouced, that they would not take part in this round. Kuzaj said, that he injured his wirst during traing, while Sołowow wasn't able to prepare his car after Barum Rally. Therefore only 29 cars started the rally in the Polish Championship. First leg was also the secound round of the Lausitz Cup, an international series with three rounds in Czech, Poland and Germany. 

 

Bryan Bouffier (207 S2000) once again this year was absolutely out of reach. He won 11 out of 12 stages and scored 11 points. He can now secure himself championship title after the gravel Orlen Rally, one round before end of the season.

 

 

 

Kajetan Kajetanowicz, a young and talented driver had a great run in his Lancer Evo IX. He was second after the first leg, but didn't slow down on Sunday and was by far the fastest Polish driver. Boufiier however was over one minute ahead.

 

Michal Bebenek (Lancer Evo IX) was third after first leg, but on Sunday he was chased by Tomasz Kuchar (207 S2000). Kuchar was Struggling with setup of his car on Saturday  and spent half of the night with the team, trying to figure it out. The hard work paid off - he was much faster and after thrilling finish gained third position on the last stage of the rally.

 

Paweł Dytko (Lancer Evo IX), who is arleady thinking about preparing an Evo X, was fifth after a bad tyre choice for the first loop. Patrik Flodin (Impreza N14) was sixth and Tomasz Czopik (Lancer Evo IX) was seventh. Flodin, fastest in PWRC in Finland (athough excluded after rally) and just like Kuchar had bad setup on Saturday. Patrik said, that he's not an asphalt expert, so he doesn't really know what is wrong with the setup and how to fix it.

 

His car however was much better on Sunday and Flodin set some good times. Tomasz Czopik, who switched to another sponsorship company, was trying to catch the Swede, but also struggled with his equipment. Czopik also picked up 1 minute a penalty on Saturday evening, but the same thing that happend to Flodin on Sunday morning - we went too fast from the service and the battle continued.

 

The most dramatic moment of the rally was the accident of Sebastian Frycz. Frycz was fignting with Flodin and Czopik and went off in SS7. He crashed into a tree and his Impreza N12B caught fire. The stage was stopped and the crew were taken to hospital. Frycz has an injured neck, but luckily it's nothing serious. The car however was completely destroyed. It's the second time this year, that Sebastian's car burned down. In Rally Poland his Impreza N14 caught fire after SS end and it also couldn't be saved.   

 

 

1 Bouffier / Panseri Peugeot 207 S2000 1:44:36.7      
2 Kajetanowicz / Wisławski Mitsubishi Evo IX +1:58.1    
3 Kuchar / Dymurski Peugeot 207 S2000 +2:33.2      
4 Bębenek / Bębenek Mitsubishi Evo IX +2:37.3  
5 Dytko / Dytko Mitsubishi Evo IX +4:04.7  
6 Flodin / Bergsten Subaru Impreza +5:20.0  
7 Czopik / Wroński Mitsubishi Evo IX +5:22.7  
8 Mancin / Gerber Mitsubishi Evo IX +7:42.1

 

 

Image: Łukasz Koziarski of Rallyonline.pl
   

Article: Witold Zygmunt of Rallyonline.pl / Motoplaneta.pl