Suzuki Swift driver Michal Kosciuszko was all set for victory on his home event on its first appearance on the World Rally Championship this afternoon. However, Poland’s Junior World Rally Championship hero hit a rock with just one forest stage to go on Rally Poland, when he was fighting for the lead. This bounced him into a tree, and the resulting radiator damage forced him into a heart-breaking retirement.
Nonetheless, Kosciuszko maintains his lead of the Junior World Rally Championship. Poland also resulted in a third place finish in the Juniors for Yoann Bonato, equalling his best-ever JWRC result, and fifth place for Italian driver Simone Bertolotti.
Right from the start, Kosciuszko was on the pace – but he wisely concentrated on his championship prospects rather than getting drawn into a battle during the early stages. He ended the opening day second in the Junior standings, less than half a minute behind the leader. Bonato was fourth, despite a small off on SS4, and Bertolotti was seventh.
A gearbox change overnight gave Kosciuszko more torque on the fast and gravelly stages, allowing him to reel in his rival. It was a hectic battle though, and by the end of the day the Suzuki driver was just 0.8 seconds off the lead, after 13 flat-out stages! Bonato and Bertolotti also had a good day to climb to fourth and fifth respectively.
On the final day, which was once more held in humid conditions, there was another epic fight for the lead. When the cars came into midday service before the last three stages, Kosciuszko had edged into the lead by just 0.1 seconds! Unfortunately, this came to nothing when Kosciuszko hit a rock on SS16 that led to his premature retirement. A strong run from Bonato nonetheless ensured a podium finish for Suzuki in Poland, with Bertolotti ending up fifth.
