Jakub Przygonski takes second in a MINI John Cooper Works Rally.
Vladimir Vasilyev finishes in fourth place.
Unlucky 13th for Polish rally ace Krzysztof Holowczyc.
Baja Poland 2017 delivered mixed fortunes for the MINI family with second, fourth and 13th place finishes. It was a successful event for Jakub Przygonski and co-driver Tom Colsoul in the #102 MINI John Cooper Works Rally, finishing second to strengthen Przygonski’s second position overall in the FIA World Cup for Cross-country Rallies.
Przygoński: “Baja Poland was a very good race for us; we pushed from the beginning and fought hard for first place. The car ran perfectly and didn’t really have any issues apart from two flat tyres from punctures and we lost three to four minutes on this. But the track here was really good and we had a good race. We’re trying to fight for the overall standing as we’re so close to Nasser but very happy to be on the podium.”
The Russian pairing of Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov also enjoyed a strong finish, crossing the line in fourth place in the #107 MINI ALL4 Racing.
However, the Baja Poland proved more challenging for returning Polish ace, Krzysztof Holowczyc and co driver Lukasz Kurzeja in the #105 MINI John Cooper Works Rally. Holowczyc demonstrated his experience at the event, which he has previously won five times, sitting in third place after Saturday’s special stage but a wheel problem later in the day added significant delays to the local competitors’ time forcing them down to an unlucky 13th position overall.
Holowczyc: “On the penultimate stage, right before the start it started raining, I think I hit a post and damaged a lamp but on the final stage I set the same time as Aron Domżała, which is quite unique in cross country rallies. Aron did a great job and we are happy that I can keep the pace and be faster than guys who compete on a regular basis. There is a moment when you can find your rhythm. I was driving quicker and more calmly and this is very important in cross-country rallies.”
2017 Baja Poland: MINI results
Position Driver Co-driver # Team
2nd Jakub Przygonski
(POL) Tom Colsoul
(BEL) 102 MINI John Cooper Works Rally Orlen Team
4th Vladimir Valisyev
(RUS) Konstantin Zhiltsov
(RUS) 107 MINI ALL4 Racing G-Energy Team
13th
Krzysztof Holowczyc
(POL) Lukasz Kurzeja
(POL) 105 MINI John Cooper Works Rally X-raid Team
