Sun, stars and speed: WRC's fast-paced summer has begun

Being based in Poland’s stunning lake district – a go-to holiday destination for the nation’s city folk – brings the slightly surreal arrangement of inland beaches and sandcastles.

Reception in the Hotel Gołębiewski is a mix of towel-toting tourists heading for one of the many swimming pools dotted around the place and the good and the great of motorsport going about the business of winning the World Rally Championship.

Even in the service park, the whiff of suncream hung heavy in the air as fans blended a horse riding adventure with the opportunity to get Kalle Rovanperä’s autograph. The entertainment was everywhere – but mainly in the stages.

Once again, Poland treated the WRC to a quite extraordinary spectacle of what rally cars are capable of.

The angle of attack was astonishing with cars apparently defying the earth’s gravitational pull as they flew sideways through the air from corner to ballistic corner. And all in some of the finest European summer sun around.

By Sunday night, the sun was shining brightest on two men: Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen, entertainers in the very extreme.