Dream-come-true second place, eleven stages finished in top three including three stage victories, 30 championship points and amazing average speed of 123.3 kph – in the first outing on amazingly fast gravel roads. This is the summary of LOTOS Rally Team efforts in Rally Estonia. These numbers do not lie: Kajetanowicz and Baran absolutely excelled in their first outing in Rally Estonia. On the fastest roads in Europe – crazy stages around many lakes in south-eastern Estonia – LOTOS Rally Team crew showed all qualities that are essential for a successful fight in this event. The Polish duo not only matched the pace of the competitors who have vast experience on this roads but throughout the whole rally fought for victory with Estonian champion.

Fantastic performance in round six of FIA European Rally Championship enabled LOTOS Rally Team crew to regain the lead in overall standings of 2015 season. Kajetanowicz is also on the right path to defending his FIA ERC Gravel Master title which he claimed in 2014. In gravel standings the Polish driver leads by 34 points from second-placed Craig Breen.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz: – It is difficult to describe with words our happiness, our satisfaction. I had been dreaming of a podium finish before our first outing in Estonia. It is just incredible: we were able to win special stages against all Estonian and European frontrunners. LOTOS Rally Team did a great work before and during this rally. Thanks to our guys I could drive this car so fast and I could have a lot of confidence in it, although I was not always sure it would work out. I spoke with people who know the local drivers and conditions very well. They know how difficult it is for a newcomer to shine in this event. They also know that you have to risk a lot on these stages. Our risk paid off. We are leading in the overall standings of FIA European Rally Championship. We can sleep peacefully over the next few days :-) We deserve a good rest but soon we will be back, working hard. We want to make a good use of the coming weeks and work even harder because we still have a lot to do in FIA European Rally Championship :-)

Jarek Baran: – We had extremely quick two days of European Championship. Average speeds on Estonian stages are unbelievable and even the tiniest details matter a lot in such conditions. We had a good pace and we did not make mistakes. It was another very good rally for LOTOS Rally Team.

1. Alexey Lukyanuk (Belarus) 1:32:25,4

3. Rainer Aus (Estonia) + 1:07,0s

4. Siim Plangi (Estonia) + 2:06,9s

5. Timmu Korge (Estonia) + 2:23,7s

6. Raul Jeets (Estonia) + 3:36,2s

7. Dominykas Butvilas (Lithuania) + 4:50,8s

8. Jarosław Kołtun (Poland) + 5:20,8s

2. Craig Breen (Ireland) 128 points

3. Alexey Lukyanuk (Belarus) 82 points

4. Robert Consani (France) 55 points

5. Siim Plangi (Estonia) 42 points

6. Bruno Magalhães (Portugal) 38 points

7. Freddy Loix (Belgium) 35 points

8. Jaromir Tarabus (Czech Republic) 34 points

 

2. Craig Breen (Ireland) 154 points

3. Alexey Lukyanuk (Belarus) 116 points