The competition in 44th edition of Cyprus Rally began today with the 4.4-kms Qualifying Stage. Driving in omnipresent dust, on the road covered with many sharp stones, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran fought an extremely ferocious and effective battle for the best time which gives the priority in selection of starting position for tomorrow. FIA European Rally Championship leaders completed the stage, which was gravel in 35% and asphalt in 65%, with the best result among all FIA ERC frontrunners. This fantastic beginning for the Polish crew means also that they recorded their sixth top-three qualifying spot this season and won the Qualifying Stage of FIA ERC round for the fifth time in their career.

The next part of an exciting battle for FIA European Rally Championship battle begins tomorrow morning, when the best European crews will start their fight on special stages. Kajetan Kajetanowicz chose fifth running position among FIA ERC competitors but Ford Fiesta R5 with LOTOS Rally Team livery will be the 14th car on the road, as nine crews fighting in Middle East Rally Championship start in front of all European Rally Championship competitors.

The organisers of Cyprus Rally have prepared 16 tests this year and 14 of them are run on mixed, gravel and Tarmac surface. The longest stage of the event, Lythrodontas, which runs tomorrow, represents a unique challenge: 86% of its distance is asphalt, but the whole test – just like all the others – has to be tackled on gravel tyres and gravel suspension. In total the fight for victory in round 8 of FIA ERC will last almost 205 competitive kilometres.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz: – Qualifying Stage victory gave us the first choice of starting position for tomorrow. However, the running order here is not as important as in other gravel rallies because the crews which compete in Middle East Rally Championship start in front of us and they will clear the road. On the other hand the cars in front of us will cut the corners and throw stones, dust and sand on many Tarmac sections. The first leg of the Cypriot FIA ERC counter is massively different from the second one, basically we have two rallies in one. Saturday’s stages are extremely twisty, full of very complicated, technical sections. Especially Lythrodontas test, run mainly on asphalt: corner after corner, we climb to 1200 metres above sea level and then we go down. Given the Cypriot heat, the fight on these stages is a great adventure and challenge not only for the crew, but also for the rally cars – above all for the brakes and gravel tyres. On the other hand the stages on Sunday are very fast but still full of sharp stones. The organisers tell us that we are facing the quickest Cyprus Rally in history. We want to do our best but at the same time we need to find a proper compromise, which is essential in order to aim for the dreamed-of result. 

2. Alexey Lukyanuk +0,069 s

3. Robert Consani  +5,570 s

4. Bruno Magalhães +7,196 s

5. David Botka +7,354

6. Dominykas Butvilas +8,844

7. Raul Jeets +9,093

8. Jaromir Tarabus +9,390 s

9. Peter Ranga +10,428 s

10. Antonin Tlustak +11,604 s

2. Craig Breen (Ireland) 136

3. Alexey Lukyanuk (Russia) 105

4. Robert Consani (France) 55

5. Siim Plangi (Estonia) 43

6. Bruno Magalhães (Portugal) 38

7. Jaromir Tarabus (Czech Republic) 37

8. Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) 36

9. Freddy Loix (Belgium) 35

10. Dominykas Butvilas (Lithuania) 33

2. Craig Breen (Ireland) 154

3. Alexey Lukyanuk (Russia) 108

4. Ricardo Moura (Portugal) 75

5. Martin Kangur (Estonia) 57

6. Bruno Magalhães (Portugal) 40

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.