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ERC contenders get in some pre-Acropolis testing

Many of the FIA European Rally Championship drivers who will take part in this weekend's SEAJETS Acropolis Rally have been doing pre-event testing in Greece.

Those in action on Tuesday on the Pavliani and Kaloskopi tests included last year's rally winner and defending ERC champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz and fellow Ford Fiesta R5 driver Alexey Lukyanuk, working with a new co-driver in Roman Kapustin for this event. "The car was OK and we focused on adjusting the suspension," said Lukyanuk. "We are advancing with our pacenotes and with everything in the car."

Also out testing were ŠKODA Fabia R5 drivers Jaromír Tarabus, Raul Jeets and Ralfs Sirmacis, who is poised to make his R5 debut on the Acropolis. "The car is amazing," said the young Latvian. "This is our first time with the car on gravel. The suspension setup is good and we will see the stages in the recce to understand if any adjustments are required. Today was more about getting the feeling which was good."

Greek hero Lambros Athanassoulas used the Kineta stage to get to grips with his Fabia (pictured), which is different to the car he used to finish third in 2015. He said: "I am impressed of the progressions made on the brakes and the differentials compared to what we knew from 2015. The car is brand new; our team received it just 15 days ago, and it has all latest ŠKODA Motorsport developments."

WRC2 contenders Juan Carlos Alonso and Jose Luis Jacquet Rios meanwhile tried out their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Xs, both run by the Lithuanian Proracing outfit.

Zdroj: fiaerc.com