Drama as ERC champion Kajetanowicz crashes

Kajetan Kajetanowicz's bid to win the Azores Airlines Rallye is over after the two-time winner of the FIA European Rally Championship crashed out on today's opening stage.

Kajetanowicz started the Pico da Pedra Golfe stage leading Alexey Lukyanuk by 1.1s but is out following a crash approximately two kilometres from the start.

Lukyanuk, who was running behind the Pole, confirmed both driver and co-driver - Jarek Baran - were uninjured although he reported their LOTOS Rally Team Ford Fiesta had suffered extensive damage.

"It's bad luck for him and I am sorry to lose him so early after a hard fight," said the Russian. "It was a left corner, fourth gear, not that fast but pretty technical. Maybe the grip was not good at that point."

With five stages run, Lukyanuk now leads local hero and 2016 Azores winner Ricardo Moura by 19.1s.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com