NEWS

Nearly four thousand kilometers divide the rallies of SM Vaakuna Ralli and Azores Airlines Rallye 2018. After the winter test, the Rallytechnology team will once again take part in this volcanic event that opens the season of the European Rally Championship. There will be no less than 36 R5 class cars at the start!

The winter round of the Finnish championship was successful for both crews of Ford Fiesta R5’s serviced by the team of Rybnik. Duo Paasonen / Rajasalo finished the competition in the twelfth position, and Habaj and Dymurski were just behind them. The general classification has been won by young Kalle Rovanpery. Now the spiky tires will be replaced by ones meant for gravel surfaces. Already on days 22nd-24th March the new season of the oldest FIA ERC series in the world kicks off. Among the competitors of Łukasz Habaj there will be runners-up from last year, Bruno Magalhães or Alexei Lukyanuk. The international competition will certainly bring a great dose of adrenaline.

“The season started for good. In Finland, we had the opportunity to work with a longtime WRC participant, Jani Paasonen. Now we're going to the Azores with Łukasz Habaj, it will be his second start in this amazing event. Competition at the peaks of the volcano, surrounded by either the gulf on one side and the ocean on the other is a big experience. It is also a great logistical challenge - our team has been one the road for nearly a month no” says Robert Gabryszewski, Rallytechnology team manager.

The Azores Rally consists of three stages that are preceded by a prologue in Ponta Delgada, not included in the general classification. On Thursday, 22nd March, three special stages have been planned: Lagoa Stage (2.14 km), Vila Franca São Brás 1 (17,4 km) and Grupo Marques 1 (3.95 km). On Friday, the crews will compete in three trials, each run twice, including Sete Cidades - the longest special stage of the rally (23.87 km). The Saturday stage is a total of six trials, the total length of which is more than 107 kilometers. Altogether, the teams will compete on over 207 kilometers of stages.