- FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies will visit Szczecin for the sixth time in history and spectacular Łasztownia Island will once again be a host for service park as well as all rally offices. During the press conference held in Warsaw’s Hotel Westin the organizers revealed more details about this year’s edition of ORLEN Baja Poland scheduled at 31st August – 3rd September.
“For me it’s, first and foremost, a huge joy, when once a year I can shift the sequential gearbox for a few times and hear a characteristic sound of the powerful MINI ALL4 Racing engine on a 6th gear – Hołowczyc said with a big smile on his face. – This year I will also start in a car prepared by Sven Quandt’s X-raid team and it is no secret, Baja Poland is a special date in my calendar.”
“I will have a great car at my disposal, the most modern evolution of a MINI and I am convinced that together with my co-driver, Łukasz Kurzeja, we will be able to fight for the win – Hołowczyc continued. – However, I am obviously aware that my rivals have a little advantage as I am competing only once a year. However when I take the seat behind the wheel I am fresh and eager as never, which also gives me a little advantage over them.”
“I am really glad to be here in such strong company. To be honest, the goal for ORLEN Baja Poland can be only one: to be the fastest driver and win with Nasser Al-Attiyah – Przygoński announced, but kept his head cool. – If in a certain moment something will not go according to our plan, we would switch strategy, because the most important thing is to bring home precious points in overall standings. Both me and Krzysiek [Hołowczyc] will have a competitive cars, so I guess Nasser’s life won’t be easy during this weekend. Apart from we are racing on our home ground, where we have a very good feeling” – the ORLEN Team competitor predicted.
“Before each rally we have very high ambitions, but we do realise the class and level of the drivers participating in ORLEN Baja Poland. We have a world’s top here, while our start comes mainly out of passion for motorsport” – Julita Małuszyńska said about a joint start with her husband, Michał. – “We are not a team that starts in every rally from the calendar, and our participation is reliant to our profession scheme and free time. ORLEN Baja Poland is for us the most important rally in the calendar and we are preparing to this start very carefully. I can also let out that once again Krzysztof Hołowoczyc was our mentor. He is an unrivalled pattern for us” – Julita thanked „Hołek”, who is returning to ORLEN Baja Poland special stages.
“For me, personally, the ORLEN Baja Poland has a huge meaning for three different reasons. Firstly, the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies is the highest ranked event in this competition. Secondly, our event has good name among the drivers – the special stage in Drawsko Pomorskie is the longest in the baja rallies calendar. Last, but not least, Polish drivers are currently in the very top of the grid, including present Krzysztof Hołowczyc, five time winner of the event.”
“Year after year we try to make ORLEN Baja Poland even better through many interesting solutions for fans, who want to watch world’s top drivers. This year’s rally base has been located on Szczecin’s Łasztownia Island, where the whole rally city will be constructed. More than that, we have also scheduled a lot of contests and quiz games for fans in every age. We are also preparing zones, like safety in traffic and many others. I can assure, you won’t be bored!” – said Podkalicki, whose daughter, Klaudia, will once again join the field of a beauty sex in ORLEN Baja Poland.