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It is hard to imagine a better place for the opening of rally season than the legendary stages of the Rally Monte Carlo. 84th edition of this rally event was the beginning of this year’s competition also for the Rallytechnology team. With great satisfaction we can say that both supported by us crews reached the finish line of the first round of the World Rally Championship in 2016. Tomasz Gryc and Michał Kuśnierz on 41, and Sławomir Ogryzek and Jakub Wróbel at the 48th position in the General Classification. For Tomek (# 103) it was respectively sixth and for Sławek tenth place in RC4 Class.
For Wednesday test section with a length of 3.5 km is planned. Our crew overcome this test after dark already. It was the first foretaste of the hardships of this rally, because it was very sliperry on test already. Rally officially launched with two night stages of the first, Thursday's stage. The first day, counting over 41.5 kilometers, both supported by our Peugeots finished in the top ten class. Tomasz Gryc, Michał Kuśnierz reached the 9th and 8th time, which gave a total of 9th place, and 21.5 seconds after the crew #103 Ogryzek and Wróbel placed oneself- so the first warm-up in the WRC can be considered a success.
Friday was a day full day of competition, divided into two loops, each of which consisted of more than 58 km. Leading the rally first three episodes was a fierce battle of Chris Meek and Sébastien Ogier, from which the current World Champion came out with a predominance of 1.5 seconds, but the fight in the FWD also not spared us emotions. Tomasz Gryc was feeling even better in the new rally car and reached times around the top eight (this place occupied by them even after the first loop). Sławek and Jakub despite being out of the maintained equal pace and despite the times around the 12th place maintained in ten RC4.
The second loop brought even more demanding conditions, which could be seen from the times reached. The charm of Monte Carlo, regardless of class, in which You start and the power of the engine is that the adherence is sometimes so variable that sometimes turns must be overcome with minimal speed, in order not to finish riding off-road. Despite the difficult day and hard work, good humor did not leave the band. It was impossible to improve the times of the first runs, but despite falls by one position, we finished the stage with positive results – Tomek at 9th position in class (51 in total classification and with a loss of 10.2 to the nearest competitor). Duet Ogryzek / Wróbel found themselves in the class two places lower, what in the general classification gave them 58th place.
Intensive schedule does not give too much time to rest, and in this respect, Saturday was going to be very busy. This time episodes count over 173 km, and run-on only almost 435 km. Five tries were divided into two loops. The biggest challenge was undoubtedly the more than 51 km long section of the opening stage. On the first pass our Peugeots fought a thrilling duel. The superior was Gryc, but Ogryzek lost in such a long distance only 4.2 seconds. SS 10 is for us even more excitement. 208 with the numbers 103 and 109 again reached the finish line with a closely related times. This time the superior was Sławek and his advantage is only 1.2 seconds. After 30 minutes of the service zone for the crew the longest stage of the rally waited again. In difficult conditions, choosing the right tires for such a long distance was even more difficult task. Tomasz and Michał improved their travel time by more than one and a half minutes, and the section itself required almost 40 minutes of fighting. Sławek and Jakub also improved their times, but still felt with one position. SS 12 brought Tomasz Gryc the best time achieved so far - the duo was the fourth crew of this episode in the class RC4. At the end of the stage crew recorded a rise in class. Tomasz Gryc for 7th and Sławomir Ogryzek (despite the loss forced to catch up with rival) for 11th place.
According to the rules of 2016 edition to compete in last Sunday's episode sixty crews joined, according to the occupied seats. Only three of the sixteen episodes are left to play, but the crew returned to the surroundings of Monaco, and the route ran through the Alps. It was on Sunday when the organizer left the players to face the legendary Col de Turini. Tomasz Gryc and Michał Kuśnierz began the day with a strong accent - fourth place in the SS 14 - which strengthened their 7th place in RC4. Our second Peugeot 208 R2 reached the 12-kilometer stage with eighth time. At the mountain pass they prevailed very difficult conditions, but Tomek and Michał achieved, another good, the seventh time. Less than seven seconds behind, Sławek and Jakub finished, which allowed them to go back for one episode before the finish, into the top ten. The second passage of the morning section closed the competition, so it was played as the Power Stage.
At the finish line of this test, everything was clear - Rally Monte Carlo fell prey to World Champions. Bravo for the result of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia. For us the most important thing, however is that the both of our duos reached the finish line in style, showing good pace. Tomasz Gryc reached the fourth time in the RC4 on the Power Stage, and throughout the rally the crew was at sixth grade. Sławomir Ogryzek had on the route Monte Carlo more adventures, but the Polish crew closed the top ten RC4. In the general classification ultimately our crews took 40th (Gryc / Kuśnierz) and 47th place (Ogryzek / Wróbel) Congratulations !!
Incredible emotions and invaluable experience of sports are behind us. Very intense working week, big logistical challenge, which forced the services to the constant readiness and change of location, but we returned to the country very happy. Thanks to the whole team, crew and fans, who even in Monte Carlo did not disappoint. Let's hope this is the beginning of a very successful season for Rallytechnology in 2016.
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