Zawada can’t wait for ERC arrival in Poland

Together with Cathy Derousseaux, the young Polish driver starred in the ERC Junior championship this year, winning in Ypres in his Opel Motorsport-support MSZ Racing-run Adam R2. Zawada knows Rally Rzeszowski well, and talks with great passion about the host city, Tarmac stages and an infamous watersplash.



“The rally is based in Rzeszow, which is a lovely old town and traditionally this has been the location of the ceremonial start to the rally,” explains Zawada. “One of the biggest draws for fans is the city stage, used as either the opening or closing stage of the rally. This is where competitors do a few laps around a track created by flyovers and roundabouts – good fun as a driver, but even better as a fan, as the layout allows for many good vantage points and there is always some sort of drama. I have to mention that there may be some bias in my review of this stage, as it’s the best result I have ever achieved in a single stage, coming fourth overall in my Clio R3!



“As the rally progresses, it usually gets hotter and hotter, and with the Polish summer in full swing sometimes temperatures can go over 40 degrees Centigrade. With this in mind, everyone appreciates an iconic part of the rally, the watersplash! About half way through what is usually the longest stage, you always see TV crews, photographers and fans lining the bank of a small river, which has a steep entrance and exit, giving the cars a perfect place to cool down, and then launch into the air – spraying everyone with a refreshing blast of water.



“A word to the wise, there is a ditch on the opposite side of the road just after the jump. The jump can be surprisingly big to first timers, and the road is always very wet from the watersplash; trust me – I have had a few big moments there…



“I think it is true for all the ERC rallies I have been to, it’s a feeling that the whole town comes alive for the rally, as if everyone – from the schoolchildren collecting autographs to the grandparents reminiscing about days gone by – has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the rally roadshow and the best crews, service teams and cars in Europe. It’s the spirit of rally, and I think that the city of Rzeszow has it.”