Mārtiņš Sesks delivered a dominant display on his FIA European Rally Championship return to open up a healthy lead heading into the final day of ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland.
Sesks guided his MRF-equipped Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to fastest times in six of Saturday’s seven fast gravel stages to open up a 21.4-second advantage over fellow MRF-shod Roope Korhonen, piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Sesks, the 2023 Rally Poland winner, produced an almost faultless drive, with the only blemish arriving in stage three when he misjudged the braking into a fast right-hand corner and briefly ran off the road, handing Korhonen a stage win in the process.
“I am really happy to be back in Poland and back with MRF Tyres,” said Sesks. “It’s been a great day but tomorrow is the same – heads down, and we keep working.”
Points leader Korhonen proved to be the only driver able to keep pace with Sesks, evidenced by a time only 0.9 seconds slower than the Latvian on SS7 – the final test before the day’s Mikołajki Arena super special that closed out Saturday’s action.
Home hero Miko Marczyk, who sits second in the championship standings, gave the Rally Poland crowd plenty to cheer as the top Michelin runner in third. Marczyk ended the day 12.5 seconds behind second-placed Korhonen.
M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong grew in confidence as the day progressed. After ending the morning loop in sixth overall, Armstrong produced stunning pace across the afternoon to climb to fourth in his Pirelli-shod Ford Fiesta Rally2, demoting the top Hankook runner Isak Reiersen to fifth.
Operating with a new co-driver in Giovanni Bernacchini, Mads Østberg found the day challenging as the Norwegian adjusted to a new partnership. Østberg’s Citroën C3 Rally2 developed an issue during the afternoon that further hampered progress, ending the day in sixth, 1m 5.1 seconds adrift of the lead.
Simone Tempestini will start Sunday’s action from seventh ahead of title contender Andrea Mabellini, who endured a difficult day, suffering tyre damage in the afternoon stages. The Italian had to nurse his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 through the latter stages with a bulging right rear tyre but still went fastest on SS8.
Sweden’s Mille Johansson battled set-up issues throughout the day to sit ninth, while Poland’s Jakub Matulka rounded out the top 10.
