Rajd Polski Roadbook Ramblings, by Wiktor Smoliński

So, you've enrolled to the Rajd Polski and arrived in Wrocław with a head full of questions: what do the stages look like? What can you expect once you leave the service park? Experienced locals reckon this year's edition is looking a bit easier than the previous years, but how true is that? Instead of having your questions answered, you – along with the rest of the participants – get taken to see the Racławice Panorama. While it is surely nice to admire this monumental painting, it does not help at all with understanding the challenge that you’re going to face in just a few hours. But fear not because I am here exactly for that: to guide you through the famed stages that have so much to tell. But first, before we let the rivalries loose on the stages, the official start must take place. The ceremony surely will be attended by thousands of fans, gathered here to get at least a glimpse of the drivers from all around the world sitting in their loud, colourful cars. The spectacle will of course take place in front of the Hotel Wrocław (such a creative name); I am pretty sure most of you are staying there for the time of the rally. Not only is it close to the parc fermé but it's also the most modern hotel in the city after all.

As we drive under the Polish flag (if you were lucky enough it was waved for you by Monika Nowosadko, last year's Miss Polonia winner) we're heading straight onto the road section leading south of Wrocław, to Sobótka. Just under halfway there we stop in Królikowice for our first stage: Królikowice – Królikowice. As the name suggests it's a fairly short sprint – a great warm-up before long day of rallying. Don't get distracted though! It's still easy to make a costly mistake there. Hopefully everyone will finish the opening stage without any problems before we continue to head to the previously mentioned Sobótka. Here the first city stage of the rally is held. Surprisingly long and technical, the lapped route through this small town-centre will provide both the challenge for the drivers and some show for the fans. After we circle around Sobótka it is then time to head into the first of the stages leading through the Góry Sowie (Owl Mountains). Starting in Jodłownik, this is an absolutely legendary piece of road with famous tight hairpins through The Bridges. The stage then climbs to its highest point – the Woliborska Pass – and after that we'll head downhill to the finish. In RBR we'll end in Wolibórz, unlike the drivers did back in the day in Srebrna Góra which is a bit further down the road, but the most iconic part of the stage isn't left out.

From there, a short road section takes us to the next stage. Starting in Żdanów, the route looks quite innocent at the beginning: wide tarmac leading through the forests and a small village. Don't get fooled though; it quickly turns into a narrow and bumpy but still very fast section. While it's rewarding to push there, it is also very easy to go off the road into the dark forest. Almost like Helfstyn, don't you think? We are indeed not far from it as it is now time to move much closer to the Czech border for a lesser-known stage: Włodowice – Świerki, a fast-paced stage with some really heavy braking into hairpins. Tricky? For sure. Fun? Very.

After leaving Świerki our next stop is stage number 6, Ludwikowice – Kamionki. Sounds familiar? For Polish rally fans it absolutely does. This stage has been used over 40 Times since 1973 in different events. It was driven in both directions, with different configurations, sometimes only in parts, in dozens of hill-climbs and rallies. This year's configuration starts with fast sections leading uphill to then turn into a series of downhill tight corners and hairpins. Hundreds or even thousands of drivers have started this stage over the years, but keep in mind that not all of them ended up reaching the finish line! It's a tricky stage, with many dangerous places like the fast right corner not long after the start, with a bridge on the outside, just to mention one of them. A bit too fast and you'll find your car wrapped in bridge railings… or in our case wrapped around a tree since the Wolibórz – Jodłownik with its deadly corner 500m after the start will be a perfect fit.

You might have noticed I have claimed that a few of the stages that are already behind us are pretty legendary. And you might have also though "when will the legendary stages end?" – well, they will, but not before we have a blast through the iconic Rościszów – Walim! Probably the most legendary name amongst Polish stages. The most important part? The cobble sections, especially the last two hairpins: the Walimskie Patelnie (Walim’s frying pans) as they are called. Be sure to do some sideways driving for the fans there but be careful since it's pretty slippery – especially during the rain! It would be pretty embarrassing to crash in such a place...

Having carefully made our way from the sea of fans in Walim we check in at the start of the next stage: Walim – Lubachów. Although it's the last stage before the regroup there's no time to relax as it is also the longest stage of the rally, starting in Walim but ending way further in Lubachów. With an extremely fast beginning, requiring you to keep the throttle pushed as hard as possible, into a more twisty ending near the lakeside. And near an iconic dam, they say you can see most of the stage from there so I would expect to see some fans perched to see some action. Now you can relax, put car in lower gear and cruise for the already mentioned regroup in Bielawa. There you can grab something to eat and talk with others, and your mechanics should find some time to hammer out any dents and bruises your car suffered up until now. After that quick break it is time for a second pass on the stages, so you have to be fully ready to commit to it again! The second loop of the day starts with Jodłownik – Srebrna Góra so the stages should be more familiar already. But be careful: the roads will be much dirtier after the first pass! You might find some unexpected gravel-covered corners in places where it is possible to cut.

If you have managed to complete the rest of the previously driven stages then you are heading from Lubachów to Wrocław to spend the night there. But before the day is done and you can rest, we're going to stop in Królikowice for a special stage. This time the route will be different, starting in Owsianka and ending in Królikowice. After coming to that final stop, it will be time to head for the service park in Wrocław for the mechanics to do what they do best and get your car fresh and ready for the next day of competition.

The second day kicks off once again with a city stage but this time through the main base city. Named after the newly built shopping centre "Astra", the special stage will be held on roads and parking lots around it, hopefully attracting curious locals to find out about this crazy thing we do called “rally”. After doing three laps (you must be careful not to get lost!) and reaching the finish we'll leave Wrocław and head for the next portion of stages. Day 2 will be very similar to the first one, although with only one pass through all the stages we've driven already twice. However, there are some exceptions, the first one being a new stage: Sady – Tąpadła. You might have driven through part of it on a road section from Sobótka to Jodłownik the day before. Now we’re going to drive it after the stage in Królikowice. Leading through the Slęża Massif, it's a relatively short sprint, being a little bit over 5km long. Next stop will be the third pass over Jodłownik. Nothing new for quite some time now, as the stages will be exactly the same. Hopefully without any surprises we'll reach Lubachów again and head back to Wrocław. Although again, to shorten the road sections we'll have some stages on the way back. This time we'll stop in Tąpadła, you might remember it from the morning stage, for a stage leading through the Tąpadła pass into Sulistrowiczki. It's pretty similar to the previous stage through the Ślęża Massif so I am sure everyone will be just fine. And the final kilometres will again be on the Owsianka – Królikowice stage. Remember when I said the legendary stages will end at some point? This is it; no more legendary stages wait for you in this rally!

With many hundreds of participants taking the start, after 27 stages you might be able to say you're one of the finishers of the famous Rajd Polski. Next step? Again, stand next to your car on the ramp next to the Hotel Wrocław, waving to the fans. And start planning your trip to the USA for the next rally!

By Wiktor Smoliński