• Hat-trick of top three finishes on Saturday’s first three stages for Kajetanowicz and Baran;
• The Poles – the fastest foreign crew in Barum Czech Rally Zlin – keep the pressure on more experienced Czech competitors;
• Kajetanowicz scores 12 points towards FIA ERC Asphalt Master classification on the opening loop.

The opening day of round 7 of FIA ERC started with three classic special stages which are among the most difficult ones in Europe. In front of thousands of enthusiastic fans Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran recorded top three times on every test this morning and they are the fastest foreign crew in Czech rally.

Just before the finish of the first stage (Slusovice, 16.05 kms) the Polish crew spotted a heavily damaged car of Robert Consani and Benoit Manzo. The Poles stopped in order to help their rivals but fortunately it turned out that both driver and co-driver are OK. The time loss incurred by Kajetanowicz and Baran was corrected by the stewards and they were given third fastest time. On the second stage – legendary, extremely mixed Pindula test (18.43 kms) – they showed great pace again, finishing in top three. Kajetanowicz and Baran upped their pace on Majak, the final test of the loop (13.72 kms), completing their hat-trick of top three stage times. LOTOS Rally Team lost just 1.8 seconds to the runner-up on this stage, Vaclav Pech Junior – who competes in this rally for the 18th time.

The crews fighting in Barum Czech Rally Zlin still have five stages to go today, with total length of 84.14 competitive kilometres.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz: – It was a good loop for us, full of very narrow and tight sections where we drove at maximum speed. We have a good feeling, the car works well so we can push hard and it gives us a lot of pleasure. We are happy that we are able to maintain good pace, pace of two Czech drivers who are ahead of us. They drive very fast but you have to expect this from local, experienced competitors like Skoda factory driver Jan Kopecky or Czech rally champion Vaclav Pech Junior who competes here for the 18th time. It shows that there is nothing we should be afraid of. There are still many stages to go and on some of them there will be even more slippery places. This rally has brought us a lot of fun so far. Our main rival Craig Breen is behind us at the moment and we will do our best to stay ahead of him.


Starts of Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran are supported by strategic partner of LOTOS Rally Team - LOTOS Group - as well as CUBE.ITG and Driving Experience. More info about Kajetan Kajetanowicz and the team available at: www.lotosrallyteam.pl, www.kajto.pl, www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna, www.facebook.com/KajetanKajetanowicz and www.twitter.com/Kajto_pl.