PressClub Global · Article.
Baja Russia 2018 – Round 1, FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.
Mon Feb 19 18:09:14 CET 2018 Press Release
• Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski and co-driver Tom Colsoul take MINI to fourth at the opening round of the 2018 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. • Baja Russia (Northern Forest) proves to be a successful first time event for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally and driver Przygonski. • Russia’s ice and snow covered forest tracks deliver exciting racing and provide excellent race season-opener testing conditions.
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Matthias Schepke
BMW Group
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Baja Russia
19 February 2018
Baja Russia 2018 – Round 1, FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup .
- Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski and co-driver Tom Colsoul take MINI to fourth at the opening round of the 2018 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.
- Baja Russia (Northern Forest) proves to be a successful first time event for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally and driver Przygonski.
- Russia’s ice and snow covered forest tracks deliver exciting racing and provide excellent race season-opener testing conditions.
Munich. Baja Russia (Northern Forest) saw a cautious beginning for MINI’s assault on the 2018 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. The fourth place achieved by the MINI John Cooper Works crew of Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski (POL) and co-driver Tom Colsoul (BEL) was a very good result considering this was the first time Przygonski and a MINI John Cooper Works Rally had competed on ice and snow. Co-driver Colsoul is an experienced campaigner of Baja Russia and his navigation experience undoubtedly played a major role in the crew’s fourth place result.
A steady but sure effort in the first two special stages proved to be an excellent and safe way for Przygonski to build his experience of racing on the slippery conditions of packed snow and ice. The crew achieved seventh place in the opening Super Special Stage (Friday 16th February), followed by fifth and sixth in Saturday’s two stages. With Przygonski’s experience growing by the kilometre, Sunday’s final two stages netted fourth and third finishes and the overall result of fourth overall for the Orlen Team pairing.
Jakub Przygonski:
“Racing on ice and snow represented a completely new experience for me. It’s very slippery and making mistakes is easy. Prior to the final special stage we found the best setup and it went really well for us.
“I’m happy that Tom and I succeeded in completing the five special stages without making any major mistakes. Furthermore, contesting the Baja Russia was big fun. The route was fast, with numerous jumps and corners. I’d love to return to this Baja next year. But I will have to practice on snow in the run-up, as I have to admit that I have been lacking in experience racing in these conditions.”
The next round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup 2018 sees a return to desert terrain with the Dubai International Baja, 9-10 March 2018.
FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup 2018 calendar
| Event | Date |
1 | Baja Russia | 16-18 February |
2 | Dubai International Baja | 9-10 March |
3 | Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge | 24-29 March |
4 | Qatar Cross-Country Rally | 17-22 April |
5 | Rally Kazakhstan | 27 May-2 June |
6 | Italian Baja | 21-24 June |
7 | Baja Spain | 20-22 July |
8 | Hungarian Baja | 9-12 August |
9 | Baja Poland | 30 August-2 Sept |
10 | Rallye Oilibya du Maroc | 3-9 October |
11 | Baja Portalegre 500 | 25-27 October |