On Friday, April 12, the Świdnica Rally begins – the first elimination round of the Polish Rally Championship 2013 season, for which Grupa LOTOS is the title sponsor. Number 1 has been assigned to last year’s winners, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and his co-pilot Jarek Baran, who will be flying the colours of the LOTOS Rally Team.

Grupa LOTOS is the title sponsor of the Polish Rally Championship 2013 season, as well as one of the seven elimination rounds, the 70th Rally Poland. The results of the latter event also count towards the FIA European Rally Championship.

This 41st Świdnica Rally, which inaugurates the Polish Rally Championship 2013 season, will run 48 crews over 14 special stages through the Owl Mountains. The total length of the special stages is just over 170 km.

The Świdnica Rally will be the first outing (in addition to the Wieliczka Memorial Rally) for Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran with the LOTOS Rally Team since their excellent performance together at the Janner Rally in Austria at the beginning of the year. “Kajto” has already won three times at the Świdnica Rally, including the 2012 edition. Now, the current three-time Polish Champions have joined us for a short talk about the competition that awaits them.

What are your emotions in the last few moments before the flag drops on a new season of the Polish Rally Championship?
Kajetan Kajetanowicz: They’re extraordinary! I'm waiting for this moment a long time – I really can’t wait to get back behind the wheel, buckle myself in, throw it into first gear, hit the diff, wait for the green light, and finally hit the trail again in Świdnica. We really hunger to compete.

Jarek, in the break between seasons do you miss those racing bursts of adrenaline?
Jarek Baran: There’s no shortage of adrenaline in my life, but I'm glad that the preparation is behind us and the rally season is finally starting again. The traditional deadline for our investigation of the Owl Mountains falls in mid-May. But this year we’re here already, and by all appearances we’re going to have a small Monte Carlo. I always enjoy the start of this rally. On the Polish rally map, Świdnica is a unique place.

This time around, the organisers have slightly modified the route. How do you like the setup now?
Jarek Baran: The Świdnica Rally has two stages, seemingly very similar, but I think the first day will be difficult. We'll do two long sections which are, in places, very narrow, difficult and technical. Everything points to there being snow in many places, and even if there isn’t, the course will be very dirty and slippery. The second day, at least for me, is more of a ‘classic’ drive, which doesn’t mean it will be easy either. I'm just glad I stayed on Świdnica’s streets for the prologue.

Follow the Świdnica Rally at www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna

Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran are starting the 2013 season with the support of their strategic partner, the LOTOS Rally Team – Grupa LOTOS. Other partners supporting the Polish Champions are LOTOS Oil, producers of LOTOS Dynamic fuels, and Driving Experience, and CUBE.ITG.

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