The recently crowned ERC4 and Junior ERC
champion was fastest in class on the opening four stages of Rally Silesia and then
quickest again on the three stages
that ran during Saturday afternoon to complete leg one of the Rally3-based
division leading by 1min 24sec.
“It’s been pretty okay but I’m not happy
with my pace,” said the 19-year-old from Sweden, whose IK Sport entry is being
run on Hankook tyres. “I want to be faster and closer to the Rally2s but I’m
still learning a lot and it’s going better and better on every stage. I
struggled a bit to get used to four-wheel drive but after half of the first
stage it has been going good, but still I’m missing some pace to be really
competitive. But it’s still fun to be here, to race without pressure and to
learn. It’s been good to this point.”
On his third ERC3 start and his first in
his replacement Renault Clio Rally3 after he damaged his original car when he
crashed out of Barum Czech Rally Zlín in August, 20-year-old Polish prospect
Hubert Kowalczyk holds second place after eight stages. Unlike Johansson
however, Kowalczyk is content with his pace.
“We are here to finish this rally because
we are leading in the points in the Polish championship, so we are consistently
realising our plans,” Kowalczyk said. “I don’t have problems because we go very
carefully.”
After accepting “I am not going to fight”
with Johansson and Kowalczyk, Martin Ravenščak has made securing third place
his focus alongside co-driving sister Dora.
“On the first stage today I didn’t have
confidence at all so the time wasn’t so good comparing to Mille and Hubert,”
the Croatian explained. “But I know from the start of the rally I am not going
to fight with Hubert or Mille, I’m fighting with myself. We just need to keep
our pace and keep fighting with ourselves and keep the car on the road and
that’s it.”
Igor Widłak was in third place, 10.3sec
ahead of Ravenščak, starting SS4 only to go off the road on a left-hand corner
into a ditch. “We landed in a trench and we need the help from the spectators,”
the Polish driver explained. “We lost five or six minutes but this is rally and
I am happy to be here. The fun is coming back to me, I have a smile on my face
and this is important because I am still building my confidence after my crash
in Rome.”
However, with Ravenščak hitting trouble on
SS5, it’s Widłak who completes the provisional ERC3 podium at the overnight
halt.
Rally Silesia concludes tomorrow (Sunday)
with a further six stages over a competitive distance of 81.56 kilometres. The
11.45km Marklowice Górne gets the deciding day of the 2024 ERC season under way
at 08:55 local time.
Japan
Poland
Turkey