(15.06.2025) Mārtiņš Sesks/Renārs Francis (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) lead the ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland after Sunday’s morning loop. The Latvian crew built a comfortable gap following the dramatic retirement of Roope Korhonen/Anssi Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who rolled 4.9 km into SS10 Pozezdrze. Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +41.4 s) climbed to second place, while Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2, +47.6 s) are third overall after winning SS10.
Sunday’s leg consists of six gravel stages – three tests repeated in two loops: Mikołajki (7.6 km), Pozezdrze (20.0 km), and Gmina Mrągowo (15.2 km). The final test of the day, Gmina Mrągowo 2, will run as the Power Stage and offer bonus points in both FIA ERC and RSMP classifications.
The day started with a fastest time for Isak Reiersen/Stefan Gustavsson (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) on SS9 Mikołajki. Armstrong responded on SS10 Pozezdrze, posting the best time on the longest stage of the loop, while Sesks closed out the morning with a confident victory on SS11 Gmina Mrągowo.
– “The most difficult part was seeing Roope on the roof. After that we just took it very carefully. I think we could’ve dropped about ten seconds, but that’s not the point anymore,” explained Sesks after finishing SS10.
Marczyk was satisfied with the loop but acknowledged areas for improvement: – “I lost 2–3 seconds in the final part due to confidence and focus. The grip was there, but in the fast places the line is still not perfect.”
Armstrong, who started the day in fourth, impressed with both pace and consistency: – “Really tricky stage. Lots of loose base and a lot of surface changes – it gets narrow for a bit. We’re just trying to push as much as we can.”
Reiersen/Gustavsson (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +1:14.0 s), fourth overall, showed speed right from the first stage of the day. The Swedes kept it together despite another close call: – “I hit the haybales again – two times now. It’s a bit rough for the car.”
Fifth overall are Mads Østberg/Giovanni Bernacchini (Citroën C3 Rally2, +1:26.2 s), who delivered a smooth and consistent performance through all three stages.
ERC3: Abramowski in control at home
Tymek Abramowski and Jakub Wróbel (Ford Fiesta Rally3) lead the ERC3 category after the opening loop on Sunday. The Polish duo maintained a strong rhythm through all three tests, extending their advantage over Ville Vatanen and Jarno Ottman (Renault Clio Rally3) to 23.1 seconds. Third place is held by Tristan Charpentier and Florian Barral (Ford Fiesta Rally3), just 2.6 seconds behind the Finns.
ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland – overall classification after SS11:
1. Mārtiņš Sesks/Renārs Francis (LVA/LVA, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1:16:33.4
2. Mikołaj Marczyk/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL/POL, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +41.4 s
3. Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (IRL/IRL, Ford Fiesta Rally2) +47.6 s
4. Isak Reiersen/Stefan Gustavsson (SWE/SWE, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:14.0 s
5. Mads Østberg/Giovanni Bernacchini (NOR/ITA, Citroën C3 Rally2) +1:26.2 s
6. Simone Tempestini/Sergiu Itu (ROU/ROU, Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +2:07.3 s
7. Mille Johansson/Johan Grönvall (SWE/SWE, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:09.0 s
8. Andrea Mabellini/Virginia Lenzi (ITA/ITA, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:14.7 s
9. Jakub Matulka/Damian Syty (POL/POL, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:40.8 s
10. Krzysztof Bubik/Adrian Sadowski (POL/POL, Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +3:47.7 s
