The 2024 World Rally Championship season continues this weekend with round 7 Orlen 80th Rally Poland.
Championship Rundown
Yohan Rossel holds the WRC2 championship lead heading into the midpoint of the season. Rossel won’t be in attendance this weekend, so his 23-point lead over Jan Solans will likely be much smaller by the end of the weekend. Although not because of Solans who is also absent this weekend. Championship hopeful, Oliver Solberg will look to take advantage of both the returning event and Rossel and Solans absences. As Solberg sits just 5 points behind Solans and 28 points behind Rossel, with one round in hand. Sami Pajari sits tied with Solberg for third, and will likely look to take the same advantage as Solberg. Nikolay Gryazin, who has only scored at two rounds this season sits fifth, three points behind Solberg and Pajari.
First Time Since 2017
Rally Poland will make its return to the WRC for the first time since 2017 this weekend. The reigning event winner at the WRC level is Thierry Neuville. Other previous winners of the historic event include Andreas Mikkelsen and Sebastien Ogier. Both Mikkelsen and Ogier will be in attendance this weekend. Mikkelsen will be making his gravel debut in the Rally1 car. While Ogier will be looking for his third win at the event or yet another podium finish.
Day Breakdowns
Day One
The first day of Rally Poland kicks off with a lone SuperSpecial stage. The stage is 2.5 km in distance. Not much time should be gained or lost during the stage. However, crews will have to be careful as there is no service until the end of the second day of the event.
Day Two
The first full day of action will see drivers contest 113.5 km across 7 stages. Including the 29.4 km Stanczyki stage. As previously mentioned the day will not feature a service until the end of the day. The teams will then get 45 minutes to service the cars. The day does feature a midpoint tire fitting zone. The day will end with another running of the same SuperSpecial stage as day one.
Day Three
The third day of Rally Poland will see drivers contest 124.1 km across 7 more stages. Including the 22.4 km Czarne stage. The day will feature two service points, including one 40-minute at the day’s midpoint and one after the day has been completed.
Day Four
The fourth and final day of Rally Poland will see teams contest 63.06 km across 4 stages. Including the 20.8 km Gmina Mragowo stage. The 10.73 km Mikolajki stage will serve as the Wolf Powerstage. There is no midpoint service or tire fitting zone on the day. Meaning drivers will have to both preserve the car and tires as much as possible on Super Sunday.