The Karkonosze Rally, the third round of the LOTOS Polish Rally Championship to be held on the first weekend of July, is a real treat for motorsports fans and residents of Jelenia Góra and the picturesque Karkonosze Mountains.

The triple Polish champions, Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Jarek Baran, who won here last year and are currently leading the table, will be the first to race on the winding roads in the Karkonosze mountains, in Szklarska Poręba, and in the Lubomierz and Mirsk region.

Many teams emphasise that this is the hardest rally of the season. As a LOTOS Rally Team driver, do you agree with that statement?
Kajetan Kajetanowicz: “I enjoy a challenge, and this rally will be one for sure. I can't wait until it starts. For me, the hardest and most exciting rally is the one which is about to start, because so many things can surprise us. When I think of what may happen during the Karkonosze Rally, and I like to let my imagination run free from time to time, I can already feel the adrenaline kick in. I feel that way before each start.”

Statistics show that since the beginning of last year you have been the fastest driver on 73 out of 99 special stages, i.e. 70% of all tarmac stages. What is more, you have not let anyone win on tarmac for more than a year. Are you planning to improve on that result?
Kajetan Kajetanowicz: “I don't really pay attention to the statistics. Of course, it is nice to hear things like that, and the figures really work on the imagination. But you don't win rallies or championships with your past results, although I think it will be nice to analyse the figures after I have retired from racing. Beating records is not my goal. It just happens naturally on my way to being a better driver and to winning another championship. I guess you may think I am a bit twisted to enjoy challenges, competition and racing so much all the time.”

Jarek, could you briefly tell us where you are competing during this year’s Karkonosze Rally?
Jarek Baran: “The Karkonosze Rally is an absolute classic, and its sections are among the most challenging tarmac rounds of the Rally Championship. Variable pace, stages with changing grip levels and road widths, as well as an unusually large number of things along the road – this requires perfect notes. The first day of the event involves two traditional sections: Karpniki, in an identical configuration as last year, and Karpacz, much modified and reversed. The loop is completed with a very fast and very slippery stage – Dziwiszów. At the end of the day we meet in Jelenia Góra, on the Zabobrze section, which is a parallel rally this year. On the second day, we will face another three trials. Last year’s famous Szklarska Poręba section has been slightly shortened. Then, there is the new Gajówka section and Lubomierz – an absolute hit of this part of the rally. Kajetan finds this section to be his favourite special stage in Poland, which means great excitement to me. And to our fans, I hope.”

Kajetan and Jarek are starting the 2013 season with the support of the LOTOS Rally Team’s strategic partner – Grupa LOTOS, and LOTOS Paliwa, producer of LOTOS Dynamic fuels. For detailed information on Kajetan Kajetanowicz and the team, visit: www.lotosrallyteam.pl and www.facebook.com/EmocjeDoPelna.

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