Originally Posted by
sindroms
Back from Poland.
1st day. Hours spended on preparation and virtual recce payed back immediately. Spot which I found in previous years on-board was Kubica's place on SS2. He blamed blind crest (too sharp and unloaded car too much) before junction... I must say before that crest he was not faster than other top crews. As for me, he missed braking and after that did mistake to try turn car rather to go straight in field. My red cap head was first to roll him back :) In fact Ewans was first who started action there by off-road in a field and back to the road. Then same for - Kangur, Sousa, Chardonet, Lefebvre... After that all was quiet until young guns with Fiestas came. All in all 16 cars were offroad there.
2nd day. Lithuania SS5/7 fast section - "straight, easy right to left medium" between two lakes. Mikkelsen surprised me. Very fast, clean, perfect lines, minimum sideways, I would say Loebish ((c) Mirek). After that SS4/9 - jump over railway, spoiled by chicane in straight before jump, nothing special to see. Some Polish teenagers with home made strong drink (good one I must admit), Latvians "Titanic movie crew", chat with others rally addicteds, all it was good for catch rally atmosphere.
3rd day. SS11. Every meter that I walked to spot - in the middle between start and spectator point, was worth it. Jump, downhill straight, lefthander, double-crest which ends with sideway jump. Mindblowing place, best ever for me. If about driving, second echelon guys were flat out at first double-crest part, while top guys did it very skilled but still fast. And once again top of the top for me was Mikkelsen. Goose bumps and uncensored delight :D Regarding safety, if some car not even rolled, just jumped a little too far in a sideway jump there would have been chopped meat served with official media tabards...
SS16. Spectators spot (before finish) jump. Not that one in forest but before it. Awesome. About 40 meters I guess. I am not a jump fan at all, but if you have chance to stay in a top off the jump in arm lenght from car, watching cars flying away... Breathtaking. Yes, very interesting safety policy. In flying-landing zone you must stay behind tapes/orange fence, 20 meters further - feel free stay where ever you want, you even have your own safety marshal (as it was on the top off the jump).
4th day. SS22. All of us where quite tired so we decide to attend nearest stage to our guest house, so we went to Kubica's place once more. There already was men in Hyundai jacket with device, measuring tarmac surface :) As we expected nothing like in 1st day. All drove very precise, except Polish Evo 9 for which that junction was total surprise.
About organization. Unfortunately my predicts about Lithuanian roads were completely right. I wonder where from came that idea about stages in Lithuania? No offence to neighbors, just wondering. I also wonder why access roads must be closed 2km before stage? What for?! Anyway, all in all it was great event for us thanks to my excellent home work :)
