Suzuki sport europe
drivers scored steadily at tricky rally in
Cyprus in 2nd and 3rd
As round 2nd of Junior World Rally Championship,
Cyprus Rally was held from 13th to 15th March
in spring feel island. In this event, two
Suzuki Swift S1600s were driven by Aaron Burkart,
who won the first round of JWRC in Rally Ireland,
and Michal Kosciuszko, as his second year
with Suzuki Sport Europe and this rally was
his first round of 2009 championship.
This rally was a challengeable
in some meanings because it had been designed
Tarmac stages for Day 1 and the rest of days
were consisted of Gravel stages. Because of
this condition and possibility of rain on
Day 1, tyre allocation could be a critical
point.
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From the beginning of Day 1, Citroen C2
S1600 driver Martin Prokop led the Juniors.
Michal was behind him and looked for the
chance to catch him. Even though the Day
1 was though as "Tarmac" day,
some parts demanded gravel-like run of
two young drivers running after the World
Rally Cars as usual. Unpredictable weather
also made surfaces muddy and gave Swift
S1600 and drivers difficulties. On the
last stage of Day1, Aaron was trapped
mud and he could not keep staying on the
stage.
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Following Saturday on Day
2, Michal started to flat out from the beginning
to catch Czech driver Martin Prokop who finished
Day 1 with 3:44.6 lead. After hard pushing,
Michal won 4 stages out of 5 stages among JWRC
competitors and at the end of the day, he succeeded
in reducing the gap between Martin Prokop to
1:38.1.
For Aaron, it did not have big meaning to try
to catch Michal and Martin with taking huge
risk, under the circumstances like muddy slippery
surface which may let him easily go off. At
that point, what he had to do was to get some
score so he concentrated on keeping stay on
the stages.
On
shiny Sunday, Day 3's task of both Suzuki
drivers were to make "result"
because there were only 3 Junior competitors
took part in this Rally Cyprus so to consider
scoring the point, Suzuki young drivers
did not need to take such a risk to catch
up Martin. At the result, Michal finished
in 2nd and Aaron finished in 3rd then
the drivers' championship standings, Aaron
Burkart is only 2 points behind Martin
Prokop and Michal Kosciuszko stands 3rd
and Simone Bertolotti who skipped Cyprus
Rally is 4th. |
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Comments from Aaron
Burkart (Suzuki Swift n.31)
"The first day, we had puncture but the
volts were not loosing immediately so it took
a couple of minuets to change tyres. Then, at
SS3, we lost both front tyres' rubber so had
to drive with steel belt and there was not much
grip on turning, breaking and accelerating.
The last one was at SS6, we slipped off and
unluckily had to retire. Even though we had
big gap from the others, it was nice to be able
to score 6 points. I am getting more and more
used to Swift and we could also try different
settings. At the result, we could finish with
6 points and it is very important for the championship."
Comments from Michal
Kosciuszko (Suzuki Swift n.32)
"For sure, it was difficult rally for the
car but we had no problem with Suzuki Swift.
But first day was a little difficult because
of tyres and we lost some time. Following Day
2 and Day 3, we started to reduce between Martin.
In these two days, we won most of all gravel
stages and it was really good. I can not wait
for the next event."
Final standings:
01. Prokop / Tomanek, Citroen C2 S1600 5:20:54.0
02. Kosciuszko / Szcepaniak, Suzuki Swift S1600
+1:36.8
03. Burkart / Kölbach, Suzuki Swift S1600
+19:48.9
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