11 October 2024

Marczyk leads Rally Silesia standings after a spectacular rally show on the streets of Katowice

Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) shone on the opening stage of Rally Silesia, the final round of 2024 FIA ERC season. Poles proved they are city stages experts, clocking the fastest time on a 1,85-kilometre evening test in Katowice. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) were 2nd fastest, just 0,2 seconds adrift of the winners, while reigning champions Hayden Paddon and John Kennard (Hyundai i20N Rally2), finished 3rd, losing 0,9 seconds to Poles.

On Friday afternoon, the participants of the Rally Silesia set off from the service park at the Silesian Stadium to the centre of Katowice to meet the fans on Dworcowa Street and take part in the opening ceremony of the event – the final round of the European Championship.

Earlier in the morning Europe’s best rally crews competed in Zabrze-Mikulczyce, where the GZM qualifying stage was held. The results of the 3-kilometre-long test determined the running order for Saturday’s special stages. In a tarmac rally, most drivers prefer to start at the front of the pack to drive on a clean road.

French duo Mathieu Franceschi/Andy Malfoy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, 1:43.1s) was quickest in qualifying. Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) came just 0.18s behind the winners. Marczyk and Gospodarczyk, the fastest Polish crew, lost 0.389s to Mabellini and Lenzi.

Marczyk in the zone on the streets of Katowice

The key point of leg one’s itinerary was the evening special stage set in the heart of Katowice, the event’s co-host. The crews competed on a 1.85-kilometre course, where a crowd of fans gathered to enjoy the show.

Not all drivers like short but spectacular city stages. Mikołaj Marczyk is not one of them, as he usually shines while facing such a challenge. The driver from Łódź has already won the famous Rally Silesia superspecial held at the meadows of Silesian Stadium. Today, he added another victory to his tally of city-stage wins. Co-driven by Szymon Gospodarczyk, he covered the route of SSS Katowice in 1:41.4 seconds.

Andrea Mabellini and Virginia Lenzi were 0.2 seconds behind. New Zealanders Hayden Paddon/John Kennard set the third fastest result (+0.9s). The top five was completed by Simone Tempestini and Francesca Maior (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, +1.1s) and Mathieu Franceschi and Andy Malfoy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, +1.6s), the only crew that retained the chance to stop Paddon and Kennard from winning their second consecutive FIA ERC title. Polish championship leaders Jarek and Marcin Szeja were next up (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, +1.8s).

Marczyk and Gospodarczyk were the fastest among Polish championship entrants. Series frontrunners bidding for their maiden title – Jarek and Marcin Szeja – finished 1.8s adrift of the two-time champions. Having won the Katowice stage back in 2023, Lukasz Byskiniewicz and Daniel Siatkowski (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) clocked third fastest this time (+2.6s).

Among the competitors in Rally3 class cars, Hubert Laskowski dominated the city battle. The 18-year-old, co-driven by Michal Kusnierz, set the fastest time, beating newly crowned Junior ERC winner Mille Johansson.

Davide Pesavento with Flavio Zanella (Peugeot 208 Rally4) took an early lead among crews in 2WD machinery, while Marek Nowak and Adam Grzelka (Opel Corsa Rally4) clocked the best time in the national 2WD classification.

Demanding challenge in the southern part of the region

On Saturday, the competition will move to the southern part of the voivodeship, where stages proven and appreciated by the drivers are located. After the morning service in the Silesian Stadium, the crews will head to Jastrzębie-Zdrój for a 17.04 km special stage (starting at 9:00). Next in the itinerary is SS Ochaby in Skoczów gmina (10.8km, from 10:00). The final stage of the loop is the longest test of the rally (19.78km, from 11:00). Nearly 20 kilometres long test has been set in Jasienica gmina. After the three stages, the riders will return to Chorzów for a 30-minute break. After the break, the second runs of the three stages are scheduled. The afternoon tests will start at 15:15, 16:15 and 17:15, respectively.

The Silesia Rally is co-organised by the Silesian Stadium, a multi-purpose venue that will host not only the rally base and service park but also one of the special stages. Saturday’s test will be concluded with a spectacle on the stadium’s meadows, where a 1.5 km-long stage will be held. A popular superspecial is scheduled for 19:30.

Rally Silesia – FIA ERC standings after SS1 (Katowice):

  1. Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1:41,4 s
  2. Mabellini/Lenzi (ITA/ITA, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +0,2 s
  3. Paddon/Kennard (NZL/NZL, Hyundai i20N Rally2) +0,9 s
  4. Tempestini/Maior (ROU/ROU, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1,1 s
  5. Franceschi/Malfoy (FRA/FRA, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1,6 s
  6. Szeja/Szeja (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) +1,8 s
  7. Bonato/Bolloud (FRA/FRA, Citroen C3 Rally2) +1,9 s
  8. Byśkiniewicz/Siatkowski (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +2,6 s
  9. Armstrong/Treacy (IRL/IRL, Ford Fiesta Rally2) +4,0 s
  10. Gabryś/Syty (POL/POL, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +4,0 s

Rally Silesia – RSMP standings after SS1 (Katowice):

  1. Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 01:41,4 s
  2. Szeja/Szeja (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +1,8 s
  3. Byśkiniewicz/Siatkowski (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +2,6 s
  4. Gabryś/Syty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +4 s
  5. Grzyb/Binięda (Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2) +4,3 s
  6. Matulka/Dymurski (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +5,2 s
  7. Laskowski/Kuśnierz (Ford Fiesta Rally3) +5,6 s
  8. Kołtun/Pleskot (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +5,7 s
  9. Krotoszyński/Sadowski (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) +11 s
  10. Kwiatkowski/Kozdroń (Škoda Fabia R5 evo) +11,9 s

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.