Rally Poland (J) - 18-20 Jun 21

ERC event preview: ORLEN 77th Rally Poland

Posted: June 18, 2021 3:57 PM

The 2021 FIA European Rally Championship fires up on ORLEN 77th Rally Poland from June 18-20 with myriad highlights in store. There’s a capacity talent-packed driver line-up, new cars, new teams, new categories, new rules, a new event later in the season, plus the latest crop of exciting young guns aiming to prove their worth as they continue the step up from national level to the world stage via the ERC.

ESSENTIALS
What: 2021 FIA European Rally Championship round 1 of 8*
When: June 18-20
Where: Miko?ajki and Warsaw, Poland
Stages: 14
Distance: 202.76 kilometres
Surface: Gravel
ERC appearances (since 2004 restructuring): 11 (2004-2008, 2010-2013, 2018-2019) *Also counting for: ERC2, ERC3, ERC Junior, ERC3 Junior, European Rally Championship for Teams, Abarth Rally Cup, Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT. ERC-MICHELIN Talent Factory incentives available

Recent winners:
2019: Alexey Lukyanuk/Alexey Arnautov (Citroën C3 R5)
2018: Nikolay Gryazin/Yaroslav Fedorov (Škoda Fabia R5)
2017: Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)*
2016: Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jæger (Volkswagen Polo R WRC)*
2015: Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Volkswagen Polo R WRC)*
*FIA World Rally Championship event

The rally in 100 words:
One of the world’s oldest rallies returned to the ERC roster in 2018 after a five-year break as Rally Poland replaced Rally Rzeszow as the country’s round of the European championship for its 75th edition. First run in 1921, Rally Poland’s home since 2005 has been Miko?ajki in the picturesque Masurian lake district, a three-hour drive north from the capital Warsaw, where high-speed all-gravel stages are commonplace. And it was in Miko?ajki where Kajetan Kajetanowicz first emerged as a major force in the ERC, taking the event win in 2013 prior to beginning his record-breaking title treble sequence in 2015.

The main changes for 2021:
While the bulk of main action will continue to be based around Miko?ajki to the north, the final stage and finish will be held in Warsaw as part of the famous rally’s centenary celebrations. And to mark the milestone, the deciding stage on the streets of the capital has been named Rally Poland 100th Anniversary in honour of an event held for the first time in 1921.

The route in short:
Of the 14 stages, the majority use fast, flowing gravel roads. Three layouts are all-new for 2021 (SS 2/5, ?wi?tajno; SS 4/7, Wieliczki and SS 13, Przasnysz). The Miko?ajki Arena superspecial (SS 1/8) and Miko?ajki Max (SS 9/11) are unchanged from 2019 when Rally Poland last took place. Olecko (SS 3/6) and Gmina Mragowo (SS 10/12) are largely similar to the versions used two years ago with Olecko continuing to include the spectacular Rosochackie jump. SS14 (Rally Poland 100th Anniversary) is the event’s only sealed-surface test and runs on Tarmac or cobblestones through the streets of Browarna, Furmanska and the world-famous Karowa in central Warsaw, home of Rajd Barbórka. Poland’s unofficial ‘Race of Champions’ and a mainstay of the country’s motorsport calendar every December has been won by triple ERC champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz on the last five occasions, but the event hasn’t run since 2019 due to the pandemic.

OVERVIEW
The 2021 FIA European Rally Championship fires up on ORLEN 77th Rally Poland from June 18-20 with myriad highlights in store. There’s a capacity talent-packed driver line-up, new cars, new teams, new categories, new rules, a new event later in the season, plus the latest crop of exciting young guns aiming to prove their worth as they continue the step up from national level to the world stage via the ERC.

Celebrating its centenary in 2021, Poland’s ERC counter is the first of eight scheduled European championship rounds, with four on asphalt and four on gravel between June and November.

While the ERC’s focus remains on providing a clear path of progression for drivers aiming for the top of the sport, it continues to be open to all-comers with a vast array of driver age and experience – plus machinery from the FIA Rally Cars Pyramid – all in action.

Ahead of the eagerly anticipated 2021 season getting underway, 76 drivers have registered with a record 72 entered for ORLEN 77th Rally Poland, including competitors in the revamped FIA ERC Junior Championship for Rally3 cars on Pirelli tyres, plus the new-for-2021 Clio Trophy by Toksport WRT, the arrive-and-driver series for the Renault Clio Rally5 using MICHELIN tyres. MICHELIN is also providing incentives for young talents in Rally2 cars using its products via the ERC-MICHELIN Talent Factory.

Administered by the FIA and promoted by Eurosport Events, the ERC is the established step-up series to the FIA World Rally Championship and is backed up by a global broadcast package, which includes extensive coverage on the various Eurosport platforms. Four stages on each event are shown live on Facebook and YouTube, while ERC Radio is on-air from all events.

History to be made as new Rally3 ERC Junior era begins

Posted: June 18, 2021 3:54 PM

History will be made in the FIA European Rally Championship later today when the new Rally3-based ERC Junior era begins.

Built to the FIA’s exciting new category regulations, Rally3 cars provide action-filled four-wheel-drive competition for a more accessible price.

From the 2021 season, Pirelli-equipped Rally3 cars will be used as standard in the FIA ERC Junior Championship with the talent-proving category getting underway on this weekend’s ORLEN 77th Rally Poland, starting with SS1 from 19h15 CET today. The high-speed gravel event is the first of six ERC Junior rounds with a dream Junior World Rally Championship prize drive in 2022 going to the eventual champion.

Ken Torn, who graduates to four-wheel-drive Rally3 competition from Rally4 level in 2021 as the ERC3/ERC3 Junior champion, was the first driver to sign-up for the groundbreaking category and will compete in a Ford Fiesta Rally3 from M-Sport Poland.

“I’m happy that we are finally back in the car ready to start our ERC Junior Championship campaign,” said the 27-year-old Estonian. “I am driving the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 this year which is four-wheel drive and built by M-Sport Poland. I worked with the team to help develop this car and I feel privileged to be making the Fiesta Rally3’s ERC debut on M-Sport Poland’s home rally. I can’t wait for the new challenge and to what the Polish roads bring us.”

Briton Jon Armstrong, 26, will rival Torn for ERC Junior success this weekend at the wheel of a second M-Sport Poland Fiesta Rally3. “I’ve been really excited about the Fiesta Rally3 ever since my first test drive this year,” said the JWRC event winner, who made three ERC3 Junior appearances in 2015. “I was quite keen to drive the Fiesta Rally3 again this year to be one of the first in the category and enjoy it. Rally Poland is amazing, I was there in 2016 for the Fiesta Trophy and got my first international rally category win, I’ve got fond memories. Poland has nice roads and it’s a good opportunity for me and Phil to develop ourselves, see what the Rally3 category is all about and it’ll be quite cool to be working with M-Sport Poland on their home round.”

Malcolm Wilson OBE, M-Sport Managing Director:
“I’ll be with the team in Miko?ajki as I want to be part of this historic moment for M-Sport, M-Sport Poland and the ERC. It’s crucial we work on developing ways to find affordable opportunities for young drivers in rallying and I really think the Fiesta Rally3 can provide those opportunities. I can’t wait to see the Fiesta Rally3 make its ERC debut in Poland in the capable hands of Ken and Jon. It's an amazing category and cost effective for four-wheel drive experience which is essential for young drivers looking to progress through the ranks. The Fiesta Rally3 doesn’t just cater to junior drivers either which is reflected in the entries as it’s a very capable national level car too. It’s perfect for those who enjoy four-wheel drive rallying, as you can have so much fun in a four-wheel drive car.”

M-SPORT AND ERC #ReadyToRally3 IN POLAND! - Jon Armstrong/Phil Hall to Drive new Fiesta Rally 3

Posted: June 18, 2021 3:50 PM

M-Sport Poland is ready to usher in an exciting new era of rallying this week on its home rally and opening round of the 2021 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), the 77th Rally Poland.

The 2021 FIA ERC sees a totally new ERC Junior class to cater for the all new Rally3 category which M-Sport Poland is the first manufacturer to homologate a car for with the Fiesta Rally3.

The entry-level four-wheel drive Fiesta Rally3 has had numerous outings at a national level this year, building popularity and awareness while highlighting itself as the perfect next step from a Rally4 car.

Rally Poland marks the start of the first ever international Rally3 category championship with Ken Torn and Kauri Pannas (2020 ERC3 and ERC3 Junior Champions) set to begin their 2021 ERC Junior campaign. This year’s ERC Junior Champion will win a fully funded season in the 2022 FIA Junior WRC Championship thanks to a collaborative effort between M-Sport Poland, Pirelli, Eurosport and FIA. Torn’s ERC Junior effort is part of his prize package for winning the 2020 ERC3 Junior Championship in an EcoBoost-powered Fiesta Rally4.

Also entering ERC Junior on Rally Poland are the winners of the 2021 Junior WRC Croatia Rally, Jon Armstrong and Phil Hall, who are targeting M-Sport Poland’s home event as a preparation and development event for future Junior WRC outings. Armstrong has developed a mature mentality with his driving in 2021, he has impressive four-wheel drive experience with a WRC2 stage win and five top-five stage times on the 2017 edition of Rally Deutschland.

In 2021 the ERC3 Junior Champion will receive three prize drives in the 2022 ERC Junior Championship with M-Sport Poland in a Fiesta Rally3, and if the 2021 ERC3 Champion uses a Ford Fiesta Rally4 the prize drives will be doubled to six.

The competition for the ERC3 Junior Championship will be tough this season with many talented crews entered. One driver in the ERC3 Junior Championship is FIA Junior WRC driver Sami Pajari in a Pirelli equipped Fiesta Rally4. The fast Finn is also using Rally Poland as a preparation event for Rally Estonia, the third round of the 2021 FIA Junior WRC Championship. Pajari chose to use M-Sport Poland thanks to the team’s expertise and experience with Rally Poland’s stages and the Fiesta Rally4 which was designed and developed in Krakow, Poland.

M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said:
“I’ll be in the Service Park with the team in Miko?ajki for the rally as I want to be part of this historic moment for M-Sport, M-Sport Poland and ERC. It’s crucial we work on developing ways to find affordable opportunities for young drivers in rallying and I really think the Fiesta Rally3 can provide those opportunities.

"I can’t wait to see the Fiesta Rally3 make its ERC debut in Poland in the capable hands of Ken and Jon. It's an amazing category and cost effective for four-wheel drive experience which is essential for young drivers looking to progress through the ranks.

"The Fiesta Rally3 doesn’t just cater to junior drivers either which is reflected in the entries as it’s a very capable national level car too. It’s perfect for those who enjoy four-wheel drive rallying, as you can have so much fun in a four-wheel drive car.”

M-Sport Poland Managing Director, Maciej Woda, said:
“This is a hugely exciting opportunity for M-Sport Poland. We finally get to see young drivers taking advantage of the new Ladder of Opportunity from Sami Pajari in the Fiesta Rally4 chasing six prize drives in the 2022 ERC Junior Championship, to Ken Torn starting his first Fiesta Rally3 prize drive.

"To be making history with ERC and starting the first ever international championship for the Rally3 category on our home event is a huge privilege and I cannot wait. We know these roads quite well and the Fiesta Rally3 turned its first wheel in Poland, I guess it’s quite fitting its first FIA Championship outing is on similar roads. In total there are seven Fiesta Rally3 cars entered on Rally Poland with a mixture of local talent and young guns like Ken Torn and Jon Armstrong. I’m really interested to see how the competition pans out between them all and how they go against other entries.

“This rally also marks the start of the ERC3 Junior Championship with Sami Pajari looking to see how he fares against ERC drivers too. There are a total of six Fiesta Rally4 cars entered in the ERC3 Junior class on Poland with some strong competition from other cars which I genuinely cannot wait for.”

KEN TORN
KAURI PANNAS
Car #41 ERC Junior

“I'm happy that we are finally back in the car ready to start our ERC Junior Championship campaign! I am driving the M-Sport Fiesta Rally3 this year which is four-wheel drive and built by M-Sport Poland.

"I worked with the team to help develop this car and I feel privileged to be making the Fiesta Rally3’s ERC debut on M-Sport Poland’s home rally. I can’t wait for the new challenge and looking forward to what the Polish roads bring us.”

JON ARMSTRONG
PHIL HALL
Car #42 ERC Junior

“I’ve been really excited about the Fiesta Rally3 ever since my first test drive this year! I was quite keen to drive the Fiesta Rally3 again this year to be one of the first in the category and enjoy it.

"Rally Poland is amazing, I was there in 2016 for the Fiesta Trophy and got my first international rally category win, I’ve got fond memories from then. Poland has nice roads and will serve as a perfect warm up for me to do my Rally Estonia preparations.

"It’s a good opportunity for me and Phil to develop ourselves, see what the Rally3 category is all about and it’ll be quite cool to be working with M-Sport Poland on their home round.”

SAMI PAJARI
ENNI MÄLKÖNEN
Car #63 ERC3 and ERC3 Junior

“It’s a great opportunity for me to get some more experience, which is vital to my development going forward. With Estonia coming next month in Junior WRC it’s a good time to experience more fast gravel roads and also test myself against new competitors all hoping to reach the top the same as me. I’m very excited to have the opportunity and cannot wait to get behind the wheel again.”

Devine Travels for Gravel as Poland Kicks off ERC Assault

Posted: June 18, 2021 3:42 PM

Following a high speed test session on Rally Žemaitija in Lithuania last week, Callum Devine is fully prepared to start his 2021 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) campaign this weekend on Rally Poland.

Following the postponement of Rallye Azores earlier in the year, Poland is now the first round of the series and despite the change to the schedule, Devine actually feels the long build up to the opening round has been on benefit to him.

Speaking ahead of the event the 27 year old said;
“Obviously we have changed car this year and moving from the Hyundai to the Ford Fiesta Rally 2 takes a little bit of getting used to. With the delay in the season starting it has allowed me to get some solid testing miles in the car, miles I wouldn’t have got had the season started when it was meant to. It was really good to do Rally Žemaitija in Lithuania recently, we worked on finding a suitable set up and getting back into the competitive mindset and we feel confident heading to Poland as the roads in Lithuania were quite similar. The event has attracted a really strong entry which is a great advertisement for the ERC and we’re aiming to get the season off to a good start and get some points of the board. There’s no easy rally at this level and you have to earn any result you get.”

Callum will be joined by co-driver James Fulton for the season and the pair have just completed the reconnaissance for Rally Poland. This process was once simply about making pacenotes but as Devine explains, things have moved on.
“We record our recce” said Devine. “Almost all drivers at this level do. We only get to drive the roads twice so recoding the stages and watching them back in the evening in the hotel affords you more time to make sure your pacenotes are as accurate as possible. This event in particular is quite high speed so it’s very important to trust fully in your notes. The road surface here is quite soft and sandy too which means the stage can be much more rutted on the second pass so that’s something we’ll have to take into account as well.”

The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver will take part in the qualifying stage today in the RLA Autosport run car before a spectator stage in the Miko?ajki Arena this evening. The event properly gets underway on Saturday with seven stages totalling 133km with a further 70km of action on Sunday before the crews return to Miko?ajki around 7pm.

Devine’s ERC season is supported by the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy, Curran Gate, Lyons of Limerick, EARS Motorsport, Parts For Cars, Rentokil Initial, Trailerstuff.ie, TST Transport, Fire Protection Ireland, Marina Racewear and Pirelli.

To keep up to date with Callum throughout the weekend, make sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or download the FIA ERC app which will be providing live rally radio coverage throughout the event.

Entry List

Posted: June 18, 2021 3:42 PM

Rally Poland (J) - 18-20 Jun 21 - ENTRY LIST

Rally Guide / Details / Event Website

Posted: May 10, 2021 9:13 AM

Rally Poland (Rajd Polski)