Although starting in the first ten, after completing three stages of the Rally Argentina the LOTOS Rally Team crew of Michal Kosciuszko and Maciej Szczepaniak were forced to withdraw from the competition on the last day, due to a faulty suspension in their WRC Mini.

After four sections of the Rally Argentina, Kosciuszko and Szczepaniak occupied 10th place in the overall standings, despite problems with overheating tires. Unfortunately, on the 20 kilometre special stage last Thursday, a retaining bolt on a rocker arm sheared off, making further driving impossible. The use of Rally 2 then earned the LOTOS Rally Team a 10-minute penalty, pushing Michał and Maciek from 10th down to 14th in the standings. The car was repaired during the evening service and the LOTOS Rally Team crew re-entered the field on Friday.

On the first loop of Friday's special stage, the Poles then recorded split times putting them close to 9th place in the overall standings. On the 30 kilometre stretch, which is repeated at the end of the section, the suspension failed again. This time the rocker arm broke completely, halting progress on the LOTOS Rally Team's drive of Friday's special stages altogether.

Despite more hard work the mechanics failed to fix the Mini's suspension in time, and ultimately the Polish team didn't start again until the final stage of the Rally Argentina on Saturday.

"We came to Argentina hoping for a good result," said Michal Kosciuszko. "Even the technical defects haunting us in this year's World Championship rounds have helped spur our personal momentum. Maciek and I were very well prepared for this race. We made a detailed description of the course, and despite the lack of testing, made good times. It is a pity that once again, through no fault of our own, a technical defect has prevented us from fighting in the next rally."

In his Volkswagen Polo R WRC, rally winner Sebastien Loeb now leads the Championship. This was his eighth victory in the event. In overall first place of the WRC this year is his compatriot, Sebastien Ogier.

The next time Michal Kosciuszko and Maciek Szczepaniak will be starting is in the Acropolis Rally of Greece, from May 31st to June 2nd, 2013.

Grupa LOTOS is the strategic partner of the LOTOS Rally Team. Michał Kościuszko is also supported by the LOTOS Dynamic fuel brand and LOTOS motor oils.

For more information about Michał Kościuszko and Maciek Szczepaniak, please visit: http://wrc.lotosrallyteam.pl/ or find the 'Emocje do pełna' Facebook profile at http://www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna.

Communication Office
Grupa LOTOS S.A.
ul. Elbląska 135,
80-718 Gdańsk,
tel. 58 308 87 31, 58 308 83 88, 58 308 83 55,
e-mail: media@grupalotos.pl