WRC2 Gold for Gryazin at Central European Rally

The Citroën C3 Rally2 driver seized the lead on the rally’s second stage and never surrendered, maintaining his position at the top throughout the tri-nation fixture. Gryazin racked up more than 10 fastest stage times over the course of the event and built a substantial advantage by Saturday evening, which he further extended over the closing stages.

While Gryazin is no longer in the hunt for the overall WRC2 title this year, his victory marked his third WRC2 Challenger triumph of the season – a result that keeps him firmly in contention for that title ahead of next month’s FORUM8 Rally Japan.

“Thank you to the team, the co-driver, the gravel crew,” he said. “I could not have done this without the information from them. Thank you for the team that did not let me slow down this weekend."

While Gryazin celebrated, his DG Sport Competition team-mate Yohan Rossel endured a more difficult weekend.

The Frenchman needed to win the rally to keep his WRC2 championship hopes alive but ultimately finished languished down in more than 15 minutes back from the lead after two costly off-road excursions. His result means that Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg – neither of whom were scoring points this week – are now the only drivers in line for the WRC2 crown.

Filip Mareš delivered one of the standout performances of his career to finish second in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The Czech driver, a regular in the FIA European Rally Championship circles, distanced Miko Marczyk on Sunday to reach the finish 29.1sec clear of the Pole and secure a maiden podium in the WRC2 category.

Marczyk battled closely with his compatriot and fellow Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz throughout the event, but an overshoot by Kajetanowicz on Saturday’s final stage effectively ended their duel. Kajetanowicz eventually trailed Marczyk by 9.7sec, marking the end of his bid for this year’s WRC2 Challenger title.