The 1 - 4 June event not only hosts the series' opening gravel round but also marks the FIA World Rally Championship debut of M-Sport Poland's recently unveiled Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo.
All eight Junior WRC crews will get their first taste of the upgraded car, which has received several tweaks including a new-look front bumper, a new rear wing plus updated suspension damper specifications.
“I’m very proud to see another step forward for Junior WRC and M-Sport Poland this weekend with the introduction of the Fiesta Rally3 Evo,” said FIA Junior WRC championship manager Maciej Woda. “It’s a result of close to two years of continuous improvement and development by the talented team back at M-Sport Poland’s headquarters in Krakow.
“I think bringing the updated cars to the Junior WRC field mid-season underlines our commitment to ensuring the very best Rally3 cars are available to all Junior WRC competitors,” he added.
Despite crashing last time out in Croatia, William Creighton starts the rally carrying a 21-point advantage over French rival Laurent Pellier. The Irishman, who is co-driven by Liam Regan, believes a "clever" approach will be integral to success on the rock-strewn gravel roads.
“The stages are going to be rough by the time we get there and it's going to be warm,” he explained, “so it's hard to know what to do. I think we're going to have to play it smart when we can and try to stay out of trouble.”
Diego Dominguez is the only FIA Junior WRC entrant with previous knowledge of the roads. Having retired from the WRC3 category lead on the final day in 2022, the Paraguayan youngster is determined to make a triumphant comeback.
Tom Rensonnet and Roberto Blach will be eager to build on their Croatia Rally podiums, as will Eamonn Kelly, who poached his maiden victory in the closing stages of the asphalt fixture. Raúl Hernández and Hamza Anwar complete the entry, the latter - who hails from Kenya - happy to be competing on a familiar surface.
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