Litwinowicz: Title is a long shot, but I’ll keep pushing

Having finished fourth overall in his maiden campaign of Euro RX1 competition last year, Litwinowicz has been a leading protagonist from the outset in 2025. After struggling with his starts in the heat races in the Lousada curtain-raiser, he battled back to secure the runner-up spoils in the final – his best result in the FIA European Rallycross Championship’s premier category to-date – prior to producing an even more spectacular turnaround in torrential conditions at Höljes.

Like championship leader Yury Belevskiy, the Poznan native only narrowly snuck into the semi-finals in Sweden – in 11^th position – and he then overcame a puncture in the final to wind up fourth. A return to the rostrum beckoned at Hungary’s Nyirád in round three, where Litwinowicz held the top spot in the standings overnight – and he was in the mix for another podium finish at the KymiRing until disaster struck.

After placing third in the intermediate classification and pipping Belevskiy to second in the pair’s semi-final battle, the 2023 Euro RX3 champion found himself caught up as collateral damage in the final in a clash between the Swiss star and Martin Enlund that left him with nowhere to go and restricted him to fifth.

Despite that disappointment, Litwinowicz’s stellar consistency has seen him finish in the top five in the heats on no fewer than ten occasions over the course of his sophomore season in Euro RX1 thus far – on six occasions, inside the top five – and he and Belevskiy are the only drivers to have advanced to the final in every round.

The 27-year-old will travel to Istanbul Park in a fortnight’s time (20-21 September) sitting 15 points adrift of the top of the table with 28 remaining up for grabs – a tall order, certainly, but as he well knows, in rallycross, nothing can ever be taken for granted until the chequered flag falls...

“I’m very happy with how the season has gone in general,” Litwinowicz reflected. “Finishing second at Lousada was the most incredible feeling, and after a crazy weekend at Höljes full of issues, breakdowns and everything going wrong – including two laps driving with a puncture in the final – I was really happy to finish fourth. 

“Obviously it was a shame about the crash in Finland, but these things happen in racing, and there was nothing we could have done to avoid it. Luckily, the car didn’t suffer major damage, and we’ve worked hard with Automax Motorsport to keep improving the Audi and make it more driveable. The upgrades have helped me to make better starts, and race-by-race, I think my driving has improved, too.

“If I’m honest, the championship is a long shot now, but I’m still giving it everything I’ve got and will be aiming to achieve my first Euro RX1 win in Türkiye. I’ve watched the races from Istanbul Park last year and from when World RX previously went there. It looks like a track that always produces plenty of action, so I’m excited to discover it for myself. It will be a very hard fight and my main goal will be to hold onto a top three finish overall. Anything more will be a bonus.”