The 3.1-kms Qualifying Stage of the Acropolis Rally proved that Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran are perfectly prepared for the unique challenge of fight for points in round 9 of the FIA ERC. The European Championship leaders set the fastest time on the gravel test full of stones, comfortably beating second-placed Lukyanuk and Arnautov by almost 0.5s and third-placed Breen and Martin by over 1.5s. Kajto and Jarek finished 7 out of eight Qualifying Stages held this year in top three, including four wins. An excellent beginning of the Acropolis Rally means also sixth Qualifying Stage victory for Kajetanowicz in his FIA ERC career.

This victory gave the LOTOS Rally Team driver the right to choose the optimal road position for Saturday’s special stages. The competitors could pick up positions from 1 do 13. In order to avoid cleaning the road covered with loose gravel and stones, Kajetanowicz decided to start the stages as 12th crew. His biggest rivals – Craig Breen and Alexey Lukyanuk – chose 11th and 13th position respectively.

On Saturday’s leg of the Acropolis Rally the crews tackle two special stages and 67.74 competitive kilometres. The opening test starts at 15:28 CET: this is the longest stage in this year’s FIA ERC calendar, Kineta-Loutraki (43.41 kms). Today’s fight ends with Kineta test (24.33 kms, start at 18:36 CET), run in darkness. The battle on punishing Greek gravel could be further complicated by rain which started to fall over Loutraki just before the crews headed to Athens for the official start ceremony.

Kajetan Kajetanowicz: – The Qualifying Stage was a very good warm-up before two long stages which begin the competition in the Acropolis Rally today. After setting the fastest time I could take the first choice of my road position and in this rally the decision is obvious: I chose to run as far as possible and picked up the last position available. On today’s stages there will be a lot of road cleaning and this is very important. There are so many stones on the surface and it is very hard to avoid them, especially on the first stage: over 43-kms test. I have never tackled such long stage and I even do not know what to expect but I am sure it will be a big experience. There are many corners which are difficult to read and many bends over the crests which will be very challenging in the dark. This rally is a unique and interesting event thanks to this unpredictability which raises the adrenaline level which is essential in order to focus properly.

Jarek Baran: – There is something unpredictable about the rallies such as Acropolis. The ambience and atmosphere are fantastic and difficult route mean that this event is for big boys only. If I could decide, I’d rather have only classic stages in this rally – such as Kineta – because Sunday’s tests with asphalt sections, although extremely demanding, are different to the classic Acropolis Rally route. I hope that on Sunday evening I still would be able to call this event my favourite rally.

2. Alexey Lukyanuk (Russia) +0.402 s

3. Craig Breen (Ireland) +1.546 s

4. Lambros Athanassoulas (Greece) +5.157 s

5. Charles Martin (France) +5.962 s

6. Jaromir Tarabus (Czech Republic) +6.179 s

7. Raul Jeets (Estonia) +6.567

8. Bruno Magalhães (Portugal) +7.775 s

9. Robert Consani (France)  +7.866 s

10. Dominykas Butvilas (Lithuania) +8.809 s

2. Craig Breen (Ireland) 136 points

3. Alexey Lukyanuk (Russia) 120 points

4. Robert Consani (France) 79 points

5. Bruno Magalhães (Portugal) 68 points

6. Jaromir Tarabus (Czech Republic) 56 points

7. Siim Plangi (Estonia) 43 points

8. Jan Kopecky (Czech Republic) 36 points

9. Dominykas Butvilas (Lithuania) 36 points

10. Freddy Loix (Belgium) 35 points

9:03 – Qualifying Stage (3.1 kms)

14:00 – Ceremonial Start

15:28 – SS 1 – Kineta-Loutraki (43.41 kms, 90.3% gravel, 9.7% Tarmac)

17:23 – Service A – 30 minutes (Loutraki)

18:36 – SS 2 – Kineta (24.33 km, 82.7% gravel, 17.3% Tarmac)

Flexi Service B – 45 minutes (Loutraki)

6:00 – Service C – 15 minutes (Loutraki)

6:58 – SS 3 – Athikia (17.93 kms, 29.1% gravel, 70.9% Tarmac)

7:31 – SS 4 – Klenia Mycenae (20.67 kms, 73.6% gravel, 26.4% Tarmac)

8:58 – SS 5 – Kefalari (18.66 kms, 97.6% gravel, 2.4% Tarmac)

10:01 – SS 6 – Ziria (20.31 kms, 55.4% gravel, 44.6% Tarmac)

11:49 – Service D – 30 minutes (Loutraki)

13:02 – SS 7 – Athikia (17.93 kms, 29.1% gravel, 70.9% Tarmac)

13:35 – SS 8 – Klenia Mycenae (20.67 kms, 73.6% gravel, 26.4% Tarmac)

15:02 – SS 9 – Kefalari (18.66 kms, 97.6% gravel, 2.4% Tarmac)

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.