Having topped the ERC3 order on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia and on his home event, ORLEN OIL 81st Rally Poland, Abramowski secured a standout treble on Rally di Roma Capitale, which marked only his second start on asphalt.
Hubert Kowalczyk finished second with Casey-Jay Coleman banking his maiden podium in third place.
Hubert Kowalczyk on his way to finishing second
© AT World
“The last loop was crazy-slow but we had to do it to not risk any damage on the car or punctures,” said Abramowski, who extended his ERC3 points lead and also topped the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy classification. “We took it very slowly, moreover we had some brake failure, so we had to take it carefully to finish the rally. Three wins in a row is amazing and we want to continue like this.”
Abramowski, who turns 19 tomorrow (Monday), began Sunday’s deciding leg 3.2sec behind his fellow Pirelli-equipped Ford Fiesta Rally3 driver Tristan Charpentier. But second became first when Charpentier retired on SS9 with a mechanical issue to leave Abramowski almost two minutes in front of fellow Pole Kowalczyk.
While Taylor Gill went on a stage-winning spree following his restart on Sunday morning, Abramowski focused on preserving his comfortable advantage to the finish alongside co-driver Jakub Wróbel.
Casey-Jay Coleman claimed his maiden ERC3 podium in Rome
© At World
“We was fighting quite tight so it’s a shame for [Charpentier] but it meant we were leading by two minutes, which is quite a lot. But we had to think a lot about the car because it’s not like you can push everything everywhere.”
Kowalcyk took second aboard his Chmielewski Motorsport-run Renault Clio Rally3 with Coleman taking a strong third at the wheel of a Fiesta Rally3.
“We are happy we are here at the finish,” said Kowalczyk. “It was a good, clean rally, we had some problems but finally I am happy.”
Coleman said: “First time here, I’m delighted. Obviously it was a tough rally with the heat so it was a big challenge but anytime you are on the podium it’s a good day. We got a [front-left] puncture on the first stage out of service this afternoon and we only had one spare so that had our hearts in our mouths for a while. It was four kilometres from the end and we had to drive on the rim.”
“First time here, I’m delighted. Obviously it was a tough rally with the heat so it was a big challenge but anytime you are on the podium it’s a good day.”
Swedish teenager Adam Grahn finished his first Tarmac rally in fourth place with Błażej Gazda fifth. Sebastian Butyński was on course to complete the top six behind his Chmielewski Motorsport team-mate but stopped on the penultimate stage to hand the position to Martin Ravenščak, who overcame myriad mechanical issues to finish sixth.
Hubert Kowalski restarted following his SS4 retirement to finish seventh, one place ahead of Taylor Gill, who was fastest on all six stages today after he dropped out of the lead following SS3 with a fuel pump failure.
“It was nice to be back out and find a bit of a rhythm,” said FIA Junior WRC leader Gill. “We’ve been trying to build our Tarmac experience and that’s what we’re here for. Obviously retiring yesterday means there’s nothing more we can do than just drive and build the experience. But it’s a really nice rally and a mega challenge.”
ERC Rally di Roma Capitale 2025, Gill
© ERC
Laskowski, whose Rally di Roma Capitale debut was made possible after 2022 ERC3 champion Igor Widłak gave him the use of his Ford Fiesta Rally3, said of his Saturday exit.
“The corner was too tight, we had a little bit of gravel and my line was not very good and we hit a stone on the exit of the corner and broke the left rear wheel. The pace before it was very good for the first time but the corner was too tight and that’s rally.”
After winning SS1 on the streets of Rome on Friday night, Adrian Rzeźnik retired with electronics failure on SS3. He returned to the action on Sunday morning but went off the road on SS12 having set several strong tyres during co-driver Kamil Kozdroń’s 130th rally.
Barum Czech Rally Zlín is up next on the ERC schedule from 15 – 17 August.