After strong performance on asphalt roads in Northern Ireland, LOTOS Rally Team crew will fight to regain the lead in FIA European Rally Championship on breathtaking gravel special stages of Rallye Açores. In round four of FIA European Rally Championship, which takes place next weekend (4th-6th of June), Kajetanowicz and Baran will fight with 73 crews that entered the event on volcanic island of São Miguel. Kajto and Jarek, who will drive a Ford Fiesta R5, are among 17 crews in the quickest S2000 and R5 machinery. Last year Kajetanowicz began his successful quest for FIA Gravel Master title in this rally, winning three special stages and recording another four top-three stage times in his first outing here.

Before the start in Ponta Delgada, capital city of the archipelago of Açores, Kajetanowicz and Baran are hot on the heels of championship leaders. They trail Craig Breen and Scott Martin – factory crew of Peugeot team – only by 3 points and in each round there are 39 points up for grabs. The fight for overall lead in championship classification will be contested on 17 special stages, covering 226.67 kms. Gravel roads consist 89% of the route and the remaining 11% is run on asphalt. One of the stages is a real trademark of this event: legendary Sete Cidades test, almost 29 kms long. Part of this thrilling classic runs around volcanic craters with picturesque lakes inside, famous for blue and green colour of water.

The archipelago of Açores is also famous for unpredictable, extremely changeable weather. Frequent rain and fog make the gravel roads very slippery and treacherous. Among the toughest competitors, in addition to Craig Breen, there are also strong Portugal drivers: two-time Rallye Açores winner Bruno Magalhães (Peugeot 208 R5) and seven-time Açores champion and two-time Portugal champion Ricardo Moura (Ford Fiesta R5).

Kajetan Kajetanowicz: – After last year’s debut of LOTOS Rally Team in Rallye Açores I knew that I would like to come back here. This is why I am counting every minute from now to the green light at the starting line of the first stage :-) The stages in Açores are beautiful and demanding at the same time. The route is very narrow and the grip levels change so often that we are not able to mark each difference in our pace notes. This is why creativity and ability to adapt quickly or even to improvise behind the steering wheel become so crucial in this rally. It is really hard to maintain the highest level of concentration, not only because of breathtaking views but also due to changeable rhythm on the stages. This means that we are facing one of the most difficult rounds of FIA European Rally Championship. Quick driving in Açores is similar to a great adventure during which one cannot be sure of anything. Competing in this rally makes you aware of the fact that it is really worth working hard and pursue such moments like those in the cockpit of the rally car on breathtaking gravel roads of São Miguel Island.