Rally Poland, the seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship, makes its appearance on the calendar for the fifth time, although it has the accolade of being the second oldest rally in the world behind Monte-Carlo. It was first included in the inaugural WRC season in 1973, ran again in 2009 and is now in its third consecutive year in the Masurian Lake District. 

The rally is based around the tourist lakeside resort of Mikołajki, nearly 250 kilometres north of Warsaw, and is characterised by fast stages and tall grass that lines the side of the road, reducing visibility and making cutting corners risky. The fifth consecutive gravel rally of the season is also host to competitors in all the support championships and this will be a first WRC outing for talented 2015 FIA European Rally Champion, Kajetan Kajetanowicz. The Pole won his home event in 2010, 2011 and 2013, each year when it was a round of the European Championship. The FIA Junior WRC crews will also be making their second Championship appearance in their six-round series; Lukasz Pieniazek is the only Pole in the category and he makes his debut on his home round, while compatriot Tomasz Gryc is just one of two WRC 3 competitors in similar two-wheel drive machinery. The experienced and popular Krzysztof Holowczyc, who has won the European Rally Championship, was three times Polish Rally Champion and three-time winner of Rally Poland, will this year be behind the wheel of the all-important zero car.

Three stages will be broadcast live on television; the opening super special stage on Thursday at the Mikołajki Arena and the two runs through Sady on Sunday, the second passage counting as the Power Stage. 

THE 2016 ROUTE

In a bid to improve the event and make it more attractive for spectators, the majority of stages have been changed. Only three are the same as last year (Mikołajki Arena, Gołdap and Świętajno,) four are run in a different configuration (Babki, Baranowo, Stańczyki and Wieliczki) and three others (Chmielewo, Stare Juchy and Sady) have featured in previous years but again not with the same route.

After the ceremonial start in the picturesque city of Mikołajki, the event kicks off with the first of three runs around the short Mikołajki Arena stage on Thursday before crews head northeast on Friday for two loops of four stages, culminating in a repeat of the super special stage. Saturday heads north for another three stages, each run twice and critically with no midday service, before returning for the final visit to Mikołajki Arena. Sunday is the shortest day with just 59.60 competitive kilometres over two repeated stages before the finish back in Mikołajki’s main square.

RALLY DATA

MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The Accreditation Centre is located in the Hotel Golebiewski, 34 Mragowska Street, 11-730 Mikołajki. The opening hours are:

RALLY POLAND TIMETABLE AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES ORGANISED BY THE FIA

FIA PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

MANUFACTURER ENTRIES, RALLY POLAND

ADDITIONAL MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES 

‘Meet the Crews’: On Friday and Saturday the top three drivers will attend a ‘Meet the Crews’ session for media and fans. This will take place in the service park at the earliest opportunity during the 45' service.

Autograph Signing Session: On Friday and Saturday selected crews will be available for a 15 minute autograph session. This will take place in the service park during the end of day service at the teams’ service areas. Additionally, selected crews will be available on Thursday 30 June at 15:30 hrs before the ceremonial start in the centre of Mikołajki.

FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS

The provisional classifications for all the WRC Championships can be found on the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2016/standings

STAGE CHART

Shortly after the finish of the event, a downloadable stage chart showing the progressive positions of the leading crews during the rally will be available. This is copyright free for editorial purposes and available at the following link:

http://www.fia.com/events/world-rally-championship/season-2016/stage-chart-5