One rally, two categories, four rally drivers supported by LOTOS. This weekend rally enthusiasts can count on a powerful dose of adrenaline – on Friday, April 12th Robert Kubica and Michał Kościuszko will compete in Rally Portugal.

The excitement begins today, on April 11th when the qualifying races will be held before the main event. Two crews sponsored by LOTOS will take part in Rally Portugal: Robert Kubica with his co-pilot Maciej Baran in WRC-2 and Michał Kościuszko with Maciej Szczepaniak, which will represent LOTOS Rally Team colours in the WRC category. From Friday to Sunday, the crews will cover 15 special sections of total 387.73 km.

Rally Portugal, which begins on April 12th, is considered the most difficult gravel rally of this year's WRC rounds. Narrow roads, blind crests, trees and stones lining the stages can cause a lot of dangerous situations. At high temperatures, the clay surface gets hard and abrasive, resulting in rapid tyre wear, and if it rains, the surface becomes very slippery.

"Portuguese gravel roads are very demanding on the tyres" said Michał Kościuszko. "The tests have shown how difficult it will be to manage just with the 24 tyres that we have at our disposal for the three days of the rally. On Friday we will take one of the longest road sections and in the Lisbon superspecial we will have to cover the distance of 240 km on the gravel tyres and go back to Parc Ferme in Faro. Considering the fact that we have no service during the Friday sections, we will also have to save tyres on the road sections”.

The three-day Rally Portugal is the first rally in this year's calendar that Robert Kubica will participate in. The Polish racer, driving Citroen DS3 RRC, has already one gravel event, WRC Fafe Rally Sprint, behind him. Rally de Portugal will be his first elimination of the World Rally Championship on this type of surface. "In my entire life I have only driven perhaps 60 km on a gravel surface, in the N car," said Robert. "This will be a great challenge for me and hopefully quite a bit of fun".

Rally Portugal is the fourth round of this year's World Rally Championship, after Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico rallies. The competition will end on Sunday, April 14th.

It can be followed on www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna.

Grupa LOTOS is Robert Kubica's Official Partner and the strategic partner of the LOTOS Rally Team. Michał Kościuszko is also supported by the LOTOS Dynamic fuel brand and LOTOS motor oil brand.

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