Polish win for champion Kuzaj.

Local driver Leszek Kuzaj claimed victory in the 63rd running of the Rally Poland, one of the six candidate events attempting to earn a place on the 2007 World Rally Championship calendar.

Currently in competition with Ireland, Jordan, South Africa, Portugal and Norway, the Rally Poland, which played host to the third round in both the Polish and European Championships, was appropriately claimed by the national champion Kuzaj and his co-driver Maciej Szczepaniak.

The Subaru Impreza crossed the line with a 51.5 second advantage over Oscar Svedlund and Bjorn Nilsson, with the Swede's holding off a late charge from initial leaders Michal Solowow and Maciej Baran in the Cersanit Mitsubishi, the Polish duo battling back from two punctures on stage eight.

"Victory tastes wonderful. I drove a little too slowly on the first Sunday stage, and couldn't keep pace with Michal Solowow," Kuzaj said. "But then he made a mistake that I tried to take advantage of. To be honest, I was really impressed by the pace Michal set."

Thanks to their victory in the Platinum 63rd Rally Poland, Leszek Kuzaj and Maciej Szczepaniak are now well ahead in the classifications for the Polish Rally Championship.

Fourth to reach the finish was leading European Championship driver Giandomenico Basso and co-driver Mitia Dotta, in their S2000 Fiat Punto thus earning another five points in the European Rally Championship. This makes them the lone leaders in the classification after three rounds.

There was also success from the sole the British runner, with Kris Meeke dominating the A6 class in his Citroen C2-R2, winning a nine of the total twelve stages over the weekend.

"The special stages were excellent. The car performed wonderfully. And the result I achieved was well above my expectations," he said.

Indeed, with an eye on getting Eastern Europe onto the World Rally Championship stage for the first time, several of the drivers lauded the organisation, the routes and even the scenery.

It is something that will please rally organisers as theirs is now the final event to be analysed before a final decision is made.

"I really liked the special stages. For its route and the accommodation, this rally is up to World Championship standards," claimed third placed Solowow.