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Rally Poland with a qualifying stage
69th Rally Poland is the first ever round of the FIA European Rally Championship having a qualifying stage in a schedule. It will substitute a classic shakedown. The qualifying stage is a pioneer project present in loose surface rounds of 2012 FIA World Rally Championship.
Thanks to qualifying stage, the competitors may choose their starting positions during the first day of the rally. Due to a cleaning road factor, it is often disadvantageous to be one of the first crews on the gravel field.
Rally Poland’s qualifying stage with all crews involved will be held on Mikolajki track (2,5 km). Cars depending on 4 x 4 drive or front-wheel drive will be divided into two groups. Firstly, each crew will tackle two rounds of the track as a recce. Furthermore, starting in pairs, there will be one qualifying round.
After that, the competitors will choose their starting position. The best qualifier will have priority in making his decision. The second best driver will make his choice as the second, and so on and so forth. The driver who didn’t score time during qualifying stage, will be the last one in his group concerning making decision.
The choice of starting positions will be held during the ceremonial start of the 69th Rally Poland on Friday 28 September at 8.00 PM at Freedom Square in Mikolajki.