ERC champions get Olympic recognition for fair play
A week before the FIA European Rally Championship heads to the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the reigning champions have been recognised with a special award for fair play.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz and his co-driver Jarek Baran were honoured by the Polish Olympic Committee for the sportsmanship they showed on last year's Barun Czech Rally Zlín.
The LOTOS Rally Team duo stopped on the second stage of the event when they came across the car of Robert Consani and Manzo Benoit, which had crashed spectacularly. With the French crew having not yet displayed the ‘OK' sign to inform following drivers that they were unharmed, Kajetanowicz and Baran stopped to check on their fellow competitors, and their time loss was later corrected, helping them to a third place finish.
"We are extremely focused in our rally car, we have to take decisions in split seconds and there is no time for hesitation," said Kajetanowicz. "When I saw the crumpled car of Robert and Manzo, I instantly realised that their crash must had been very serious. I would have never forgiven myself if something had happened to them and we would have not helped them. I do not regret this decision. I would do the same again - just as everyone who loves the life and realises how easily you can lose it."
Zdroj: fiaerc.com