Return of legends to the Kłodzko Valley – preview of the 3rd Polish Rally of Legends
For decades, the Kłodzko Valley has stood as one of the most scenic yet unforgiving locations on the Polish rally map. Narrow, tarmac, and exceptionally fast roads surrounded by dense woodland and sharp crests forged the history of Polish motorsport over the years, serving as the spine of the iconic Lower Silesian Rally (Rajd Dolnośląski). The modern continuation of this rich heritage is the Polish Rally of Legends. Created by passionate members of Auto Moto Klub Kłodzko, the project debuted in 2024 and swiftly earned high acclaim from competitors and spectators alike. The upcoming third edition promises to be a landmark gathering. Event headquarters will once again reside in picturesque Polanica-Zdrój, hosting the central service park. There, fans will enjoy a rare opportunity to inspect historic and high-performance rally cars up close, as well as interact directly with heroes of past and present eras. Organizers have assembled a demanding itinerary consisting of twelve special stages covering nearly 70 kilometers. Entry lists are overflowing over a hundred crews are expected at the start across various historic and demonstration classes. The event structure seamlessly blends pure sporting heritage with grand spectacle. Rather than a flat-out battle for fractions of a second on the ragged edge, the priority centers on displaying the full capability of iconic machinery while providing unforgettable experiences to spectators along the stages. The open nature of the event fosters close interaction between fans and teams, establishing the Polish Rally of Legends as one of the most welcoming fixtures on the motorsport calendar.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz in the powerful Citroën C3 WRC – main attraction for fans
The headline figure of the upcoming 3rd Polish Rally of Legends will undoubtedly be Kajetan Kajetanowicz. The four-time Polish Rally Champion and 2023 WRC2 Challenger Champion confirmed his participation, sending waves of excitement throughout the rallying community. Kajto and his long-time co-driver Maciej Szczepaniak will take to the stages inside the formidable Citroën C3 WRC. For the ORLEN Rally Team duo, this marks their third official outing of the 2026 season, following World Rally Championship appearances at Rally Croatia and Rally Poland a fixture holding joint status in the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the Polish Rally Championship (RSMP). The choice of car is deliberate: WRC machinery from the 2017–2019 era is widely regarded by experts and fans as among the most spectacular, uncompromising, and rapid vehicles in WRC history. Kajetanowicz emphasized that his primary motivation for entering was giving back to the fans and expressing gratitude for their unwavering support over the years. “There are rallies where the result is everything. Then there are events where emotions, memories, and sharing something truly special with the fans take precedence. The Polish Rally of Legends belongs to the latter, and I congratulate the organizers. It’s a fantastic concept, a brilliant rally time machine that answers what fans crave while delivering genuine excitement to both spectators and drivers,” stated Kajetan Kajetanowicz ahead of the event in Kłodzko. Featuring a driver of his pedigree behind the wheel of a wild machine from WRC’s modern classic era guarantees phenomenal viewing on every kilometer.
History and specs of the Citroën C3 WRC – monster of the 2017–2019 WRC era
The Citroën C3 WRC occupies a celebrated chapter in modern motorsport engineering. Technical regulations introduced by the FIA in 2017 unlocked a massive leap in performance vehicles received dramatic aerodynamic packages, a 36 mm turbocharger air restrictor, and an active center differential. As a result, the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine produced roughly 380 horsepower alongside over 400 Nm of torque. Aggressive fender flares, a massive rear wing, and deep rear diffusers yielded immense aerodynamic downforce through high-speed sweeps. The C3 WRC is intrinsically linked to some of the greatest names in rallying history, having been piloted in factory trim by multi-time world champions Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier. It represented the final pure generation of World Rally Cars prior to the implementation of Rally1 hybrid powertrains in 2022. Deploying such a monster onto the narrow tarmac strips of the Kłodzko region represents an unprecedented occasion. Kajetan Kajetanowicz highlighted the vast capabilities of the car, which he plans to fully display for the Polish crowd: “Along with Maciek, I want to deliver plenty of excitement to everyone, and I hope our chosen car the Citroën C3 WRC, will help us do just that. It is a machine with immense performance, and I will try to unlock at least a portion of what it can do. I am delighted that we can present a WRC car to Polish fans once again, as these specific vehicles captured imaginations and sparked enormous emotions for years.”
Sebastian Frycz returns to competition – comeback after seven years away
Another deeply emotional highlight of the 3rd Polish Rally of Legends is the return of Sebastian Frycz to competitive stages. A standout Polish driver from the turn of the millennium, renowned for his aggressive and tail-happy driving style, Frycz last contested an event in 2019 at Rally Świdnicki. Following a seven-year break from the rally cockpit, Frycz decided to rekindle his passion by selecting the Kłodzko event for his comeback. Notably, Maciej Wodniak will rejoin him in the co-driver’s seat. The reunion of this duo carries profound symbolic meaning Frycz and Wodniak achieved their most significant domestic milestones together, capturing the Group N overall crown in 2001 and securing the Polish Championship title in the highly competitive Super 1600 class in 2002. The return of the decorated crew after so many years has generated huge enthusiasm among veteran fans who fondly remember the golden era of RSMP. The driver admitted that hearing glowing reports from spectators at previous editions played a key role in his decision: “I wasn’t aware of the first two editions. It was only when fans returned from last year’s event talking about how massive the rally was that the idea started brewing to enter the next one, and here we are” admitted Sebastian Frycz. His return illustrates how the magic of rally competition and the desire to reconnect with fans in an authentic atmosphere can entice legendary figures back to the stages.
Magic of the Super 1600 era – Sebastian Frycz in the iconic Renault Clio S1600
Sebastian Frycz’s comeback at the 3rd Polish Rally of Legends brings an additional treat for fans his choice of machinery. The driver will tackle the stages in the iconic Renault Clio Super 1600. The S1600 category was a true phenomenon during the first decade of the 2000s naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engines revving to nearly 9,000 RPM, sequential gearboxes, and front-wheel drive combined to produce a high-pitched, raw engine note that still triggers nostalgia among rally diehards. Although Frycz enjoyed immense success in S1600 in the past piloting cars like the Fiat Punto S1600 and Opel Corsa S1600, he will drive a Clio S1600 for the very first time in his career. “Yes, I will be competing in a Renault Clio Super 1600. It marks a return to this class after nearly 20 years. In between, I drove Group A cars and most recently a Hyundai R5 about 6 or 7 years ago. After such a long break, we will try to get accustomed to the car quickly and show the fans what this machine can really do,” commented Frycz. The vehicle choice is a masterstroke; naturally aspirated S1600 machinery demands pin-point precision, late braking, and keeping engine revolutions perpetually high. Seeing Frycz and Wodniak back together in an S1600 car offers fans a nostalgic trip back to an era when Polish stage battles reached artistic heights of excitement.
Iconic special stages – SS Spalona and city tests in Kłodzko
The route of the 3rd Polish Rally of Legends has been crafted to extract the absolute finest elements of the region’s motorsport heritage. The undeniable centerpiece and most eagerly anticipated stage will be the iconic Spalona special stage. Featuring fluctuating rhythms, rapid elevation drops, treacherous off-camber corners, and rich history, Spalona has commanded immense respect from championship drivers for decades. Sebastian Frycz holds a special affinity for this specific test, identifying Spalona as his favorite stage from his prime: “Some on-board videos surfaced recently. The Spalona stage my absolute favorite stage from those times. I think that is where this car will truly be able to show what it is capable of” In addition to fast and technical forest stages, organizers have arranged highly spectator-friendly city stages in the center of Kłodzko. Tight streets, sharp hairpins around curbs, and concrete barriers present a completely different driving and mechanical challenge. Watching the roaring Citroën C3 WRC and high-revving Renault Clio S1600 negotiate compact urban spaces will give fans an intense sensory experience impossible to replicate in standard championship rounds.
Kłodzko region as the cradle of Polish rallying – heritage of Rajd Dolnośląski
The distinct atmosphere of the Polish Rally of Legends is tied directly to the roads on which it is run. For decades, the Kłodzko Valley hosted Rajd Dolnośląski (Lower Silesian Rally), long considered one of the most prestigious rounds on the Polish Rally Championship calendar. These roads served as the proving ground for giants of Polish motorsport, where a victory in Kłodzko carried prestige equivalent to winning Rally Poland. Kajetan Kajetanowicz boasts an exceptional record on Kłodzko asphalt. The four-time Polish Champion entered Rajd Dolnośląski five times, climbing the top step of the overall podium twice in 2009 and 2012 alongside co-driver Jarosław Baran. Kajto’s return to these familiar roads inside a full-spec 2017 WRC vehicle represents a historic link connecting different eras of Polish motorsport. For Sebastian Frycz, the Kłodzko stages were the setting for fierce battles in Group N and S1600. The area is famous for constantly changing tarmac grip levels, sudden mountain rain showers, and loose gravel pulled onto corner cuts. All these elements make tire compound selection, suspension setup, and precise pace notes critical to maintaining pace and staying on the road.
