GRYAZIN WINS, INGRAM CAN TAKE TITLE
Lukyanuk crashes, under 28 title goes down to the wire within gram and gryaz in. by Graham lister
Alexey Lukyanuk probably hadn’t planned to describe becoming European Rally champion for the first time as “strange”. But after wiping off the right-rear from his Ford Fiesta on a Polish tree three stages in to the country’s ERC counter last Saturday, the celebrations in the Mikolajki service park were far from raucous, despite the enormity of the achievement.
Lukyanuk had battled back from serious injuries sustained in a head-on crash during a driver coaching session last year, which has left him with a limp and an eagerness to sit as often as possible – plus a constant shortage of cash – to take the ERC crown with three wins and a second place from seven starts.
With the title effectively his when rival Bruno Magalhaes announced he’d be a non-entry here and on next month’s Latvian finale having run out of funds, Lukyanuk was keen to show a bit more bravado in terms of his driving, having competed all season under the burden of giving his investors the title they yearned.
That decision could have had dire consequences had his title bid depended on points in Poland. While it dealt another blow to his wallet, it wouldn’t have any bearing on who would follow Kajetan Kajetanowicz as ERC champion.
“Something went wrong before the jump, the speed was not too high but before the jump the car reacted too well to my steering input and we had too much slide,” said the Russian. “I understood I could touch the inside of the corner so I had to straighten up the car a bit and we jumped straight on this crest and unfortunately we landed too far from the proper line. The speed was OK but the line was not perfect so we hit a tree after landing. Not a good moment for us.
“It feels a bit strange [to be champion after a crash] but I’m happy for the team and for the sponsors. It’s a really big step for us. We tried to be on the limit all the time but we don’t have enough practice, enough testing and sometimes we lose control. But the party starts now.”
Briton Chris Ingram could also be in party mode soon after he kept alive his ERC Junior Under 28 title hopes with second spot to outright Poland winner Nikolay Gryazin and one place ahead of erstwhile title leader Fabian Kreim.
Ingram will head to Latvia seven points behind Gryazin although the droppedscore rule will mean a class win next month might not be enough for the crown.
Gryazin’s Poland win – his second in the ERC – was further confirmation of the 20-year-old Russian’s pace and ability to drive with his head rather than his heart.
Throughout the three days of competition in Poland, Gryazin was adamant top points in class meant more than topping the final leaderboard. That meant Jari Huttunen was always in catching distance in his factorysupported Hyundai, although a time penalty and final-stage excursion left him 8.3s adrift at the finish.
Reigning ADAC Opel Rallye Cup champion Tom Kristensson won his first event in the ERC Junior Under 27 class previously won by Ingram. He is now succeeded by Martin Sesks who claimed the title and prize funds towards an R5 drive in the ERC next year.