ERC: Eurosport confirms four live stages from Poland
Rally fans will have the opportunity to watch a total of four live stages of the LOTOS 70th Rally Poland when the FIA European Rally Championship is held there on September 13-15, after Eurosport announced plans to show the two 19.14km runs through Mragowo on the Saturday and then the dual 23.77km stages through Mateuszek on Sunday live on its channels.
"Confirmation of Eurosport's live coverage of LOTOS 70th Rally Poland underlines the network's continued commitment to the ERC," said Fran?ois Ribeiro, the Motorsport Development Director of Eurosport Events which is promoting the ERC in 2013.
The Polish round has assumed a higher profile in 2013 thanks to the participation of former F1 driver Robert Kubica in a selected programme of events in the series this year which will include his home event.
Kubica has led all three ERC events in which he has started in his Citro?n DS3 RRC. So far he has set 16 fastest stage times and will be looking to add to that tally in Poland where he is sure to be one of the star attractions and when he will come up against several Poland's top international rally drivers as well as the leading contenders in the ERC title battle.
"All the ingredients are in place for the event to be one of the toughest sporting battles in this year's ERC," said Ribeiro. "There will serious competition ahead, and passion from the Polish fans coming to see Robert Kubica rallying at home.
"Eurosport could not miss the opportunity to bring this action and emotion live on TV," he added.
The fact that this will be a gravel event makes the prospect for some impressive TV coverage even greater, as Gilbert Roy, Director of Editorial at Eurosport Events pointed out.
"Gravel rallies are always very spectacular and we can't wait to show the viewers some beautiful pictures with the dust being kicked up by the cars and the striking light at sunset for the last stages of each day," he said. "We always consider the job we did with Rallye Monte-Carlo, when we showed pretty much every stage live for a three-year period, our flagship coverage but Rally Poland will be very close."
Jean-Pierre Nicolas, the ERC's general co-ordinator and former manager of the Peurgot WRC team, said that he was pleased by how the Polish stages were shaping up.
"I was instantly impressed with the quality of the fast and flowing gravel stages although I'd heard very good reports before I arrived," he said. "I am sure that all drivers will love them and I know the fans watching on television and online are in for a truly spectacular treat.
"The stages are pretty fast and flowing with some jumps and not too narrow," he added. "The scenery they pass through is also very picturesque. It's going to be a very exciting and quality live TV show."
Before Rally Poland, ERC will be visiting Romania this weekend for the Sibiu Rally. Then there will be the Barum Czech Rally Zl?n from August 30 to September 1, which is the eighth round of the 12-event ERC season in 2013.
Currently, Jan Kopeck? leads the ERC championship standings for SKODA Motorsport by 32 points over Ireland's Craig Breen who is driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 for Saint?loc Racing.
