After visits to frosty Russia, the deserts of Qatar and Abu Dhabi as well as Italy, Spain and Hungary the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies is moving to Poland where Baja Poland will take place on the first weekend of September.
The most prestigious rally raid in Poland will be the arena of the competition for the precious points in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies – the most important prize in this discipline of motor sport.
The event, which is based in Szczecin and has its stages in areas of Dobra, Lubieszyn and at the firing range in Drawsko Pomorskie, starts on Friday, September 1 at 16:30. The finish of the competition is predicted to take place on Sunday afternoon. In addition to series-leader Nasser Al-Attiyah, two Poles: Kuba Przygoński – the runner-up of the World Cup – and Krzysztof Hołowczyc, who is returning to the competition behind his MINI ALL4 Racing’s wheel, are in the circle of front-runners capable of winning the event.
ORLEN Baja Poland 2017 is going to be a round of FIA Central European Zone Championship (FIA-CEZ), Polish Cross-Country Championship (RMPST), Czech Republic Cross-Country Championship (MMCR) and Polish Cross-Country Rally Cup (RPPST). Rally fans will be also allowed to marvel at the competition in Dacia Duster Cup – a single-make cup created in order to advance junior drivers for the first time. The ambassador of the Cup is none other than Krzysztof Hołowczyc.
Furthermore, motorcyclists who came forward in Polish Baja Rallies Cup (PPRB) are going to fight for the highest time possible as well. That fills the entry lists, which have already been published, with as many vehicles as 134.
This year’s edition of Baja Poland has gained the new titular associate, PKN ORLEN, the biggest Polish company. However, that does not change the fact that a sizeable involvement in the organisation of the rally has remained in the hands of Baja Poland Foundation. The route is changed and elongated as well.
Similarly to the previous year, it consists of seven special stages. Two Saturday’s tests on the firing range in Drawsko Pomorskie are considered as the most astonishing ones. For two years, the stage has expanded to the length of 140 km. The two classic stages on firing range in Drawsko are now 431,80 kilometres in total. SS 2/3 Drawsko Pomorskie is the longest stage in the whole baja rallies’ calendar.
This year, rally’s offices, service park and the rally camp are situated on the scenic Łasztownia island. The start of the rally has been moved there from Wały Chrobrego. The compact location of the most important part of the show should simplify following of The FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies’ fastest drivers for the spectators.
Just as in the previous years, ORLEN Baja Poland will begin from the Super Special Stage in the suburbs of Szczecin. Both the start and the finish of the first stage are located in the Szafera street. Before this, however, every crew will take a part in the shakedown. This will be the first opportunity to see the rally cars in action.
This element, which is taken from regular rallies, appeared in cross-country events a year ago but gained an acceptance of drivers. Now, they can check and set their cars before the beginning of the real competition. On Saturday, September 2, the whole grid will move from Szczecin to Drawsko Pomorskie.
They will travel 100 km to transit two of the longest stages of the rally which are nearly 216 kilometers long each. The service park will move to the area of the firing range as well, which is going to be another attraction for the fans. The winner of the rally will be known on Sunday, September 3 after the last four special stages which are 60 kilometres long collectively.
Krzysztof Hołowczyc has the most wins in Baja Poland. He has won in Szczecin five times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015). Balazs Szalay from Hungary, Alexander Zeloudov from Russia and Nasser Al-Attiyah from Qatar have got one triumph in the rally in 2009, 2013 and 2016 respectively.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, the winner of last year’s edition is present in Szczecin but Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Kuba Przygoński are planning to rain on his parade. Przygoński in present season clinched his first win in The FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies by standing on the highest place of the podium in Italian Baja and is hungry to add more top places to his tally.
Baja Poland 2017 schedule
Thursday, August 31
09:00 – 21:00 Administrative Checks
10:00 – 22:00 Check Test 1
Friday, September 1
09:00 – 13:00 Shakedown, Szafera st., Szczecin
14:30 The publication of the start list
16:30 Ceremonial start, Łasztownia island
18:00 SSS Szczecin, Szafera st., Szczecin
Saturday, September 2:
8:15 SS 2 Drawsko Pomorskie
11:45 The arrival of the first crew in the service park, Drawsko Pomorskie
13:45 SS 3 Drawsko Pomorskie
17:15 The arrival of the first crew in the service park, Drawsko Pomorskie
20:30 The arrival of the first crew at the first leg’s finish, Szczecin, Łasztownia
Niedziela, 3 Września:
08:40 SS 4 Krzekowo
09:35 SS 5 Lubieszyn
10:30 Arrival of the first crew in the service park, Szczecin
12:30 SS 6 Krzekowo
13:25 SS 7 Lubieszyn
14:30 Ceremonial finish, rally camp, Szczecin, Łasztownia
FIA World Cup 2017 (classification after 8 rounds)
1. Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) 210
2. Jakub Przygoński (POL) 138
3. Khalid Al-Qassimi (ZEA) 105
4. Yasir Seaidan (SAU) 93
5. Aron Domżała (POL) 86
6. Mohammed Abu Issa (QAT) 84
7. Martin Prokop (CZE) 70
8. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE) 45
9. Leeroy Poulter (ZAF) 42
10. Yahya Al Helei (ZEA) 30
2017 calendar:
24/02 – 26/02 Baja Russia – Northern Forest (Russia)
09/03 – 11/03 Dubaj Baja (United Arab Emirates)
01/04 – 07/04 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (United Arab Emirates)
16/04 – 21/04 Sealine Cross Country Rally (Qatar)
20/05 – 27/05 Rally Kazahkstan (Kazakhstan)
15/06 – 18/06 Italian Baja (Italy)
21/07 – 23/07 Baja Espana Aragon (Spain)
10/08 – 13/08 Hungarian Baja (Hungary)
31/08 – 03/09 ORLEN Baja Poland (Poland)
04/10 – 10/10 Rallye du Maroc (Morocco)
26/10 – 28/10 Baja Portalegre 500 (Portugal)