Krzysztof Hołowczyc and Łukasz Kurzeja (X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i) lead AKPOL Baja Poland 2026 after Saturday’s leg at the Drawsko Military Training Ground. The ten-time Baja Poland winner holds a 5min 51.7sec advantage over Michał Małuszyński and Julita Małuszyńska (Toyota Hilux EVO). Benediktas Vanagas and Aisvydas Paliukenas (Toyota Hilux) are fourth, the highest-placed of the regular FIA European Baja Cup contenders.
Saturday was the longest leg of this year’s AKPOL Baja Poland. The crews tackled three special stages covering 314.44 competitive kilometres. The first two were 128.40km apiece, followed by a 57.64km final stage at the Drawsko Military Training Ground.
The 18th Baja Poland is round four of the FIA European Baja Cup. The event also counts towards the FIA Central European Zone Championship, the Polish Cross-Country Rally Championship and the Czech Cross-Country Rally Championship. The field additionally includes competitors from the Cross Country Cup, domestic Baja series for motorcycles and quads, and Can-Am Baja Promo.
KUŚ FASTEST ON THE OPENING STAGE
Saturday’s action began with a 128.40km stage at the Drawsko Military Training Ground. Adam Kuś and Maciej Giemza (Taurus EVO MAX) set the fastest time, beating Bartłomiej Kotwica and Arkadiusz Jędrzejewski (Taurus T3 Maxx) by 12.3 seconds and the Toyota crew of Małuszyński and Małuszyńska by 22.2 seconds.
First onto the road, Hołowczyc and Kurzeja stopped at kilometre 44 to change a wheel. GPS data indicated that they were stationary for around three minutes, yet the Olsztyn driver still set the fourth-fastest time, just 27.6 seconds behind Kuś.
“We made a mistake on the first pass by running tyre pressures that were too low. The traction was better, but the car did not accelerate as it should and, more importantly, we increased the risk of pulling a tyre off the rim. That is exactly what happened,” Hołowczyc explained.
HOŁOWCZYC REGAINS THE LEAD
Hołowczyc and Kurzeja stayed out of trouble on the second pass and set the fastest time in 1hr 18min 05.1sec. Vanagas and Paliukenas were 4min 18.1sec slower, while Małuszyński and Małuszyńska conceded 4min 38.6sec.
“The most important thing is that this time we had a clean run – no dramas, no wheel change and no need to inflate the tyres. I think putting around five minutes into the others on a stage gives them something to think about. I am also pleased that the car is running reliably. It may be a little less powerful, but it handles very well and the suspension copes brilliantly with the jumps and rough sections,” said Hołowczyc.
“The second pass was much better for us. We drove with more confidence and avoided a puncture this time. We improved by almost five minutes. The wheel change on the first stage took around three and a half minutes, so we found another minute and a half through our pace alone. We are back where we should be,” Kurzeja explained.
Victory on SS2 lifted Hołowczyc and Kurzeja from fourth to first overall. With one Saturday stage remaining, they led Małuszyński and Małuszyńska by 4min 33.2sec. The leaders then closed the leg with a second consecutive stage win, completing the 57.64km SS3 in 34min 40.7sec. Małuszyński and Małuszyńska were 1min 18.5sec slower, Vanagas and Paliukenas lost 1min 26.2sec, and Mariusz Wiatr and Łukasz Łaskawiec (Ford F150 EVO+) finished 1min 43.4sec off the pace.
MAŁUSZYŃSKI SECOND, KUŚ LEADS CHALLENGER
Michał Małuszyński and Julita Małuszyńska finished Saturday’s three stages in third, third and second respectively. Those results secured them second overall, 5min 51.7sec behind Hołowczyc and Kurzeja ahead of Sunday’s finale.
“I am very happy with the car. I am still learning it, but I think it is fairly easy to drive and great fun. It handles brilliantly, including sideways, and the engine sounds incredible,” said Małuszyński.
After winning the opening stage, Kuś and Giemza set the fifth-fastest time on each of the next two tests. They ended Saturday third overall, 6min 50.7sec behind the leaders, and at the head of the Challenger category.
Repeated passes left deep ruts in the route. The increasingly broken surface proved especially challenging for the lighter Taurus, which runs smaller wheels than the Ultimate cars.
“The training ground became badly cut up. Deep ruts developed and there were corrugations under acceleration. These conditions are much harder on our smaller wheels than on the tyres fitted to the Ultimate cars. We are in a good position in the category, however, and we are fighting for the best possible place overall,” Kuś emphasised.
VANAGAS ON COURSE FOR CUP POINTS
Vanagas and Paliukenas set the sixth-fastest time on Saturday’s opening stage before finishing second and third on the next two. The Lithuanians are fourth overall, 7min 01.4sec behind Hołowczyc and Kurzeja, and are the highest-placed crew registered to score FIA European Baja Cup points.
“We improved by almost two minutes on the second pass. But when I watch Hołek and the other Polish drivers, it feels as though there is something about physics I do not understand. It is a really enjoyable stage without the rocks that can damage the car. There are some big holes and plenty of jumps, but that is all part of competing on a military training ground,” said Vanagas.
Wiatr and Łaskawiec hold fifth place, 8min 16.4sec behind the leaders. Their Ford rolled just before the finish of the opening stage and landed back on its wheels. The crew restarted and continued. The windscreen was replaced and the necessary repairs were completed at service, although the suspension problem could not be fully resolved before SS2.
“This does not seem to be our day. The guys had very little time because they had to rebuild the car after the roll and make it fit for the next stage. We still have a suspension problem – the car is bottoming out over every bump. Sorting the suspension before the next stage will be our priority,” said Wiatr. Despite the issue, the crew set the fourth-fastest time on both remaining Saturday stages.
POLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: HOŁOWCZYC AHEAD OF MAŁUSZYŃSKI AND KUŚ
The top three in the Polish Cross-Country Rally Championship standings mirror the overall event order. Hołowczyc and Kurzeja lead Małuszyński and Małuszyńska, with Kuś and Giemza third. Wiatr and Łaskawiec are fourth, while Kotwica and Jędrzejewski hold fifth. The Taurus T3 Maxx crew received a 4min 10sec time penalty and trails the leaders by 11min 40.0sec.
Grzegorz Gąsiorowski and Katarzyna Szałęga (Polaris RZR Pro R) lead the UTV category. Ninth in the MPRCC standings, they hold a 2min 09.5sec advantage over Kacper Melzig and Szymon Gospodarczyk (Can-Am Maverick R).
PCC AND CAN-AM LEADERS SWEEP BOTH STAGES
Marcel Jędrzejewski and Michał Zoll (Polaris RZR Pro R Ultimate) won both of Saturday’s Cross Country Cup stages. After a 10-second penalty, they lead Piotr Cierzniewski and Jakub Brzeziński (Polaris RZR) by 6min 35.3sec. Szymon Bracha and Paweł Stawecki (Polaris RZR Pro R) are third, 12min 57.9sec off the lead.
Marcin Urbanowski and Władysław Barzdo (Can-Am Maverick R) also swept both stages in Can-Am Baja Promo. After two tests, they lead Jędrzejewski and Zoll by 7.6 seconds. Third-placed Łukasz Gajos and Sebastian Wach (Can-Am Maverick R) trail by 2min 14.1sec.
TALAGA AND ŻWIREK OUT FRONT
Marcin Talaga (GasGas 450) leads the Polish Baja Rally Championship. The opening-stage winner holds a 1min 44.2sec advantage over Kamil Piątek (GasGas EC450F), who was fastest on the second test. Adam Krysiak (Polaris Scrambler) is the highest-placed quad rider, 2min 23.4sec ahead of Jakub Nowak.
Jakub Żwirek (Polaris Scrambler 1000S) leads the Polish Baja Rally Cup. After penalties were applied, he is 4min 08.4sec ahead of Wojciech Biedron (Polaris Sportsman) and 9min 39.0sec clear of Sławomir Zamorski (Can-Am Outlander XTP 1000).
SUNDAY FINALE AROUND SZCZECIN
Two special stages totalling 52.16km remain in AKPOL Baja Poland 2026. Both will start in Sławoszewo. Following a neutralisation in Wołczkowo, the crews will tackle the second part of the stage, which finishes on Zawadzkiego Street in Szczecin.
The first pass starts at 09:05. After regrouping and a 60-minute service near Enea Arena, the crews will return to the route at 13:05. The winners of the 18th Baja Poland will be decided after this final stage. The podium ceremony and prize-giving outside Enea Arena are scheduled for 14:30.
AKPOL BAJA POLAND 2026 – STANDINGS AFTER SS3 (FIA EUROPEAN BAJA CUP):
- Krzysztof Hołowczyc / Łukasz Kurzeja (X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i) 3hr 15min 47.6sec
- Michał Małuszyński / Julita Małuszyńska (Toyota Hilux EVO) +5min 51.7sec
- Adam Kuś / Maciej Giemza (Taurus EVO MAX) +6min 50.7sec
- Benediktas Vanagas / Aisvydas Paliukenas (Toyota Hilux) +7min 01.4sec
- Mariusz Wiatr / Łukasz Łaskawiec (Ford F150 EVO+) +8min 16.4sec
- Bartłomiej Kotwica / Arkadiusz Jędrzejewski (Taurus T3 Maxx) +11min 40.0sec
- Marcin Nasiłowski / Michał Goleniewski (Taurus Max) +13min 25.3sec
- Miroslav Zapletal / Marek Sýkora (Ford F150 EVO+) +13min 41.7sec
- Włodzimierz Grajek / Szymon Marciniak (Toyota Hilux GR) +14min 27.0sec
- Marek Kubiczek / Dominik Ragiel (Taurus EVO MAX) +21min 49.1sec
AKPOL BAJA POLAND 2026 – STANDINGS AFTER SS3 (POLISH CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP):
- Krzysztof Hołowczyc / Łukasz Kurzeja (X-raid MINI JCW Rally 3.0i) 3hr 15min 47.6sec
- Michał Małuszyński / Julita Małuszyńska (Toyota Hilux EVO) +5min 51.7sec
- Adam Kuś / Maciej Giemza (Taurus EVO MAX) +6min 50.7sec
- Mariusz Wiatr / Łukasz Łaskawiec (Ford F150 EVO+) +8min 16.4sec
- Bartłomiej Kotwica / Arkadiusz Jędrzejewski (Taurus T3 Maxx) +11min 40.0sec
- Marcin Nasiłowski / Michał Goleniewski (Taurus Max) +13min 25.3sec
- Miroslav Zapletal / Marek Sýkora (Ford F150 EVO+) +13min 41.7sec
- Włodzimierz Grajek / Szymon Marciniak (Toyota Hilux GR) +14min 27.0sec
- Grzegorz Gąsiorowski / Katarzyna Szałęga (Polaris RZR Pro R) +18min 14.4sec
- Kacper Melzig / Szymon Gospodarczyk (Can-Am Maverick R) +20min 23.9sec
