ERC
Sesks takes Pole on ERC return
Mārtiṇš Sesks has made an instant impact on his return to the FIA European Rally Championship with the fastest on the Qualifying Stage for ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland.
The 2023 event winner took 3min 26.6sec to complete the 6.30-kilometre Baranowo test aboard his MRF-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 earlier this afternoon.
In warm and dry conditions, the Latvian outpaced fellow MRF-shod driver Stéphane Lefebvre (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) by 0.4sec with Isak Reiersen third in a Fabia RS Rally2 run on Hankook tyres.
Roope Korhonen, who leads the ERC standings for Team MRF Tyres after three rounds, was fourth quickest, 0.9sec behind Sesks as Michelin-supplied Mads Østberg was fifth fastest with new co-driver Giovanni Bernacchini.
Pirelli-supported Andrea Mabellini rounded out the top six followed by Philip Allen, the BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia Qualifying Stage winner last month.
Miko Marczyk was the top Polish driver in eighth position
© ERC
Double Polish champion Miko Marczyk was the leading homegrown talent ahead of Jon Armstrong, who a class winner on his three Rally Poland starts to date. Marco Tempestini and Poland’s Jakub Matulka were next up as Mille Johansson, Max McRae, Jarosław Koltun and Krzysztof Bubik completed the top 15.
The starting order for Saturday’s opening leg will be revealed at 15h15 local time. The Ceremonial Start will begin at 17h00 the Main Square of Mikołajki, the rally’s host town since 2005. Prior to the start, the ERC community will gather to remember Junior ERC driver Matteo Doretto, who lost his life in an accident during a private test on Tuesday.
