13 October 2024

Mabellini wins, Szeja and Paddon clinched the titles


Everything is clear! The second run of the Silesian Voivodship stage (11.78 km) concluded a three-day high-speed battle in the Rally Silesia – the final round of the European (FIA ERC) and Polish (RSMP) championships. The event was won by Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Third place went to Hayden Paddon and John Kennard (Hyundai i20N Rally2, +19.9 s), who sealed their second European championship title. Jarek and Marcin Szeja finished third in the RSMP standings (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, +1:52.2 s), clinching their maiden Polish championship title.. 

Three days of competition, 109 crews, i.e. 218 competitors from 13 countries, 14 special stages with a total length of 180 km, including two spectacular city superspecials – this is the Silesia Rally – the final round of the European championship (FIA ERC) and the national championship (RSMP), and the largest motoring event in the Silesian Voivodeship.

The promotion to the European Championship, the oldest rally series in the world, meant that the Silesia Rally was among the eight most important rallies in Europe. Moreover, the event held under the patronage of Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodship, was the final and decisive round. The event’s results determined who took the crown in FIA ERC and RSMP. Newly crowned champions and rally winners received their trophies in a venue unique to Polish sport – the Silesian Stadium.

New Zealanders set the pace on Saturday

The final part of the European Championship battle began on the streets of Katowice, co-host of the event. On Friday evening, a spectacular superspecial was held in the centre of the Silesian Voivodeship capital. Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) were the fastest on the 1.85km-long route near the Spodek. They finished the first day of the Rally Silesia at the top of the leaderboard.

On Saturday morning, the best rally crews from Europe and Poland set off from the Silesian Stadium, event’s co-organiser, to the south of the region to tackle Jastrzębie-Zdrój (17.04 km), Ochaby (10.8 km) and Gmina Jasienica (19.78 km) stage. Victory contenders and reigning champions – Hayden Paddon and John Kennard – set the pace. The New Zealanders, who covered nearly 18,000 km to participate in the Rally Silesia, took the lead after the second stage of the rally and kept it until the end of the leg one. They won as many as five of the seven stages on Saturday, including the day’s closing superspecial near the Silesian Stadium, on which they tied with Marczyk and Gospodarczyk. On Saturday, only Jon Armstrong and Eoin Treacy (Ford Fiesta Rally2) were able to beat Paddon and Kennard.

The Irish duo was the fastest on both runs of the Gmina Jasienica test.

Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) finished the first leg of Rally Silesia in second place, 6.1 seconds adrift of the leaders. Italian crew was followed by

Simone Tempestini/Francesca Maior (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). The Romanians were 25.3s slower than the leaders. The highest-placed Polish duo was Marczyk and Gospodarczyk, fighting for the FIA ERC runners-up spot. Two-time Rally Silesia winners were the best among Polish championship entrants.

Maiden FIA ERC victory for Mabellini and Lenzi

Sunday’s itinerary comprised three special stages: Marklowice Górne (11.46 km), Hażlach (17.45 km) and Silesian Voivodeship (11.87 km). Each of them was run twice. The second pass of the Silesian Voivodeship test was held as the Power Stage, where five fastest crews scored additional points towards the FIA ERC and RSMP standings.

The weather spiced up the scenario of Rally Silesia’s final leg. Rain soaked two of the three stages of the morning loop. Armstrong and Treacy and Andrea Mabellini with Virginia Lenzi shone in the challenging conditions. The Irish crew won the first two stages, while the Italians clocked the fastest time through the Silesian Voivodeship stage, which saw them move into the lead.

Before the start of the second loop, the rain broke up for good. Therefore, most of the competitors went for the rain tyres during the tyre fitting zone in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.

Armstrong and Treacy were in their zone on slippery and treacherous stages. Irish driver dominated the final part of the event, winning three out of three remaining stages. Impressive performance promoted them to second overall, what was their maiden top three finish in FIA ERC.

Hayden Paddon and John Kennard did not have to push to achieve their ultimate goal. The New Zealanders took a cautious approach and finished in third place. They scored more than enough points to seal their second consecutive FIA ERC title.

Mabellini and Lenzi took their maiden FIA ERC victory. The Italians only won one special stage but showed a consistent and competitive pace.

In eight rounds, Paddon and Kennard scored 145 points, 21 of which were scored in Silesia. FIA ERC runners-up were Mathieu Franceschi and Andy Malfoy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, 124 points), the fifth crew of the Silesia Rally. The lowest step of the podium in the FIA ERC season was won by Poles Marczyk and Gospodarczyk (109 points).

The ERC4 (2WD cars) classification was won by the Swedish Norwegian duo Calle Carlberg/Jorgen Eriksen (Opel Corsa Rally4). The trophy for victory in the ERC3 category (for crews in Rally3 cars), was taken by Swedes Mille Johansson and Johan Gronvall (Ford Fiesta Rally3).

Szeja brothers with National title

Rally Silesia was a title decider in the Polish rally championship, too. This trophy has been won by Jarek and Marcin Szeja (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo). The crew from Ustroń entered the Rally of Silesia as leaders of the series standings. They had a 21-point advantage and all they needed to seal the title was third place. They achieved this plan by a wide margin. They kept a cool head throughout the rally, controlled the pace, avoided mistakes and, at the finish line in Chorzów, enjoyed their maiden Polish championship title.

Five out of six rounds of the 2024 RSMP season Szeja brothers finished in top three, including two events they won – Valvoline Rally Małopolski and the Marma 33rd Rally Rzeszow. In total, they scored 166.5 points, while reigning champions Grzegorz Grzyb and Adam Binięda collected 149 points. Zbigniew Gabryś and Damian Syty (135.5 points) finished the season in third position.

In the RSMP classification, Marczyk and Gospodarczyk won the Rally of Silesia, ahead of Grzyb and Binięda (+1:31.8s) and Szeja brothers (+1:52.2s).

Among the crews in 2WD machinery it were Michal Chorbinski and Patryk Kielar who clinched the victory. This achievement elevated them to the top of the standings as Polish champions in 2WD category.

Hubert Laskowski and Michał Kuśnierz (Ford Fiesta Rally3) dominated class 3. Hubert Kowalczyk and Jarek Hryniuk (Renault Clio Rally3) came second, enough to seal the title in this category.

Champion’s relief

– The first victory in an FIA ERC round tastes great! The final stage was the longest 11 km of my life. Thank you to everyone who was with us on this amazing journey. Not long ago we drove a Rally5 car, then a Rally4, and now we have the best rally car you can use in the European championship – said Andrea Mabellini at the finish.

– Emotions take over in such situations. We tried very hard to get to this level and develop the pace to finish the European championship round on the podium – commented Jon Armstrong.

– What a relief! This season was made up of two different parts, but thanks to the determination of the whole team, we achieved the goal. Halfway through the season, we were discouraged but didn’t give up. I’d like to thank the whole team and all the compatriots who cheered us on – said Hayden Paddon, who celebrated with New Zealand fans at the finish of the Silesian Voivodeship stage in Kiczyce.

– I don’t know what to say! I am speechless. I simply thank all our partners and everyone who believed in and supported us because it was a team success – Jarek Szeja, the new Polish champion, rejoiced.

– I am happy that we are at the finish line. I did my best on the final stage. It was not an ideal season for us. I lacked confidence in my driving, but on the other hand – we put all our hearts into every rally. I hope we will be able to fight for the top position in the European championship again – said Mikołaj Marczyk in his emotional comment.

The Rally Silesia was also a round of the Millers Oils Historic Polish Rally Championship. The competition in this series ended on Saturday. Marcin Majcher and Daniel Leśniak (Subaru Legacy 4WD Turbo) won and claimed the title in this series.

Rally Silesia was a part of the Southern Poland Rally Championship – a series of local events shorter than the RSMP rounds. Kacper Potyra and Piotr Sieliło (Citroen DS3 THP) emerged victorious from this battle. Just 1.8 seconds behind them were Jakub Niemiec and Mateusz Bodniak (Peugeot 207 RC). Marcin Kwaśny and Marcin Roik (Honda Civic VTi, +20.9 seconds) finished third.

Rally Silesia 2024 – FIA ERC overall standings:

  1. Mabellini/Lenzi (ITA/ITA, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1:45:28.9 s
  2. Armstrong/Treacy (IRL/IRL, Ford Fiesta Rally2) +18.3 s
  3. Paddon/Kennard (NZL/NZL, Hyundai i20N Rally2) +19.8 s
  4. Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +24.1 s
  5. Franceschi/Malfoy (FRA/FRA, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +53.1 s
  6. Bonato/Bolloud (FRA/FRA, Citroen C3 Rally2) +1:29.1 s
  7. Grzyb/Binięda (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1:55.9 s
  8. Szeja/Szeja (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) +2:16.3 s
  9. Gabryś/Syty (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:35.4 s
  10. Allen/Drew (GBR/GBR, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:45.9 s

Rally Silesia 2024 RSMP overall standings

  1. Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1:45:53,0 s
  2. Grzyb/Binięda (Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2) +1:31,7 s
  3. Szeja/Szeja (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +1:52,2 s
  4. Gabryś/Syty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:11,3 s
  5. Byśkiniewicz/Siatkowski (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) +2:38,2 s
  6. Kołtun/Pleskot (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +2:39,9 s
  7. Matulka/Dymurski (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +3:14,5 s
  8. Krotoszyński/Martynek (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +5:52,8 s
  9. Laskowski/Kuśnierz (Ford Fiesta Rally3) +6:12,2 s
  10. Kwiatkowski/Kozdroń (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +6:24,0 s

2024 FIA ERC standings after Rally Silesia (round 8/8):

  1. Paddon/Kennard (NZL/NZL) 145
  2. Franceschi/Malfoy (FRA/FRA) 124
  3. Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (POL/POL) 109
  4. Mabellini/Lenzi (ITA/ITA) 101
  5. Armstrong/Treacy (IRL/IRL) 88

2024 RSMP standings after Rally Silesia (round 6/6):

  1. Szeja/Szeja 166,5 pkt
  2. Grzyb/Binięda 149 pkt
  3. Gabryś/Syty 135,5 pkt
  4. Matulka/Dymurski 130,5 pkt
  5. Byśkiniewicz/Siatkowski 113,5 pkt

Rally Silesia– information:

The first edition of the Rally Silesia took place in 2017, immediately as a round of the Polish Championship – the most important rally series in our country. In the following years, the event was gradually developed – competitors in historic rally cars joined the participants, the Rally Silesia emerged new Polish champions and a spectacular show was organized – a special stage in the center of Katowice. In 2023, the competition gained international rank, becoming part of the European Rally Trophy (FIA ERT). It also gained recognition from the World Automobile Federation (FIA) and the promoter of the European Championship, which resulted in the promotion of the Rally Silesia to the FIA European Rally Championship (FIA ERC) – the second most important series in the world.

The honorary patronage over the competition was assumed by Wojciech Saługa, Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship.

The main partner of the Rally Silesia is the Silesian Voivodeship.

The strategic partner of the Rally Silesia is the GZM Metropolis.

The city of Katowice is a co-host of the event, and the MOYA brand is a partner of the Rally Silesia. The Silesian Stadium in Chorzów is a co-organizer of the competition.

The event’s partner is also the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, and the task was co-financed from the state budget from the part administered by the Minister of Sport and Tourism.

All information about the Rally Silesia can be found on the website www.rallysilesia.com Facebook @rajdslaska, Instagram @rajd_slaska and Twitter @RajdSlaska.