Leading his class by 1min 24.0sec after Rally
Silesia’s opening leg, Johansson, the 2024 FIA ERC4 and FIA Junior ERC
champion, continued to impress alongside co-driver and fellow Swede Johan
Grönvall by claiming an eventual winning margin of 3min 53.6sec.
Hubert Kowalczyk finished second to secure
his national class title in a Pirelli-shod Renault Clio Rally3 with fellow Pole
Igor Widłak completing the podium driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 on Pirelli
tyres.
“Since we got the seat in the Junior WRC
next season we want to get as many kilometres as possible in Rally3 before next
year and this was a great opportunity,” Johansson said.
“Thanks to Hankook and
IK Sport we was able to be here and do this rally, which was really fun with a
lot of learning as well.
“It’s been quite tricky for me coming from
a two-wheel drive to a four-wheel drive and what tyres you should use, and it’s
not been easy with this weather. We’ve made some decent decisions and the pace
has been good but still I’m not quite happy with the pace we have shown, I have
more to give.”
While it was a day free of issues for
Kowalczyk, Widłak was hampered by a power issue and a puncture. “We had many
experiences but we are happy with a smile on our face,” Widłak said.
Martin Ravenščak restarted on Sunday
morning following his SS5 exit due to a damaged left-rear wheel and finished
fourth following a trip into a ditch on SS12.
“The
speed was okay but the corner was too tight,” the Croatian said of his issue
one kilometre from the start of SS5. “It was no big deal we just hit the left
rear wheel on a dirt bank and that was it. On the last loop, the first stage,
we went off in a big muddy ditch, but we were really lucky because we have 4x4
so we could get out. After that stage I decided to lose our pace and just
finish this race.”
By
reaching the finish, Ravenščak’s sister Dora secured
the runner-up spot in the FIA ERC3 Championship for Co-Drivers. She said: “It
was a really good season, it was something new for us on a much higher level
than we are used to. It’s really been a blast and we’re very happy to be here.
Hopefully we can be here next year.”
Japan
Poland
Turkey