The Rally Silesia lived up to its role as the grand finale of the Polish Rally Championship and European Championship, delivering fierce competition, unexpected twists, and challenging weather. The Rally Silesia brought plenty of excitement for the TVN TURBO RALLY TEAM crew.
Łukasz Byśkiniewicz and Daniel Siatkowski entered the season’s last rally fully motivated, with a mathematical shot at the championship title. From the very start, they pushed their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo to the limit. Unfortunately, weather conditions intervened at a critical moment. As Byśkiniewicz and Siatkowski lined up for the start of the 11th special stage, it started to rain, and their Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo was equipped with dry-condition “slick” tires. This forced the team into a cautious drive, costing them valuable time. In the end, Byśkiniewicz and Siatkowski finished 5th in the general classification of the Polish Rally Championship Rally Silesia, ending the season in 5th place overall.
Łukasz Byśkiniewicz:
“The Rally Silesia marked the end of an incredibly engaging and thrilling season in the Polish Rally Championship for us. From the opening round in Świdnica back in April, we faced intense battles down to fractions of seconds. It was no different in Rally Silesia, where we gave everything to secure the best possible standing in the Polish Championship. We also tested ourselves against the fastest European Championship crews, which was an exciting experience, especially lining up with New Zealand’s factory driver, Hayden Paddon, who ultimately clinched the European title here. Our rally began well; we demonstrated strong pace, earning 3rd place in Poland and 7th in Europe. We were within reach of a podium finish until the weather intervened, bringing rain for which we were unprepared. Running Michelin M21 slicks – great for dry conditions – we struggled in the wet, incurring substantial time losses and losing our podium chances. We concluded the Polish Rally Championship season with 5th place in the Rally Śląska and 5th overall. Although we didn’t capture the title, Daniel and I view this as a successful season where we drove even faster compared to 2023. A heartfelt thank you to our partners for this rally adventure, and we invite everyone to the upcoming Rally Barbórka in Warsaw this December.”
Daniel Siatkowski:
“I do regret that this season of the Polish Rally Championship has come to an end. I feel we ended it on a high note, though our expectations were certainly greater, given that we claimed the vice-championship title in the general classification last year. This season proved to be even more competitive and intense than the last, as evidenced by Rally Silesia. It was a particularly challenging event for us. We maintained a strong pace, consistently staying among the Polish Rally Championship leaders. However, our results were impacted by the unpredictable weather and some less-than-ideal tire choices. But that’s rallying – beyond skill and equipment, luck plays its part too. We’re grateful to have crossed the finish line at Stadion Śląski in one piece, as it was far from guaranteed.”