19 September 2025

Rally Silesia 2025: Leg 1 summary

A showpiece opening ceremony on Dworcowa Street, historic rally cars enjoying a second youth, a crowd-pleasing run from Kajetan Kajetanowicz, and Poland’s leading crews fighting through Silesia’s landmarks – day one of Rally Silesia is in the books. After the GZM Katowice superspecial, Mikołaj Marczyk and Szymon Gospodarczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) lead the rally.

Before the big night in the regional capital, crews tackled shakedown in Zabrze-Mikulczyce. Over the 3.05 km test, two-time Rally Silesia winners Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) set the pace.

They were only 0.4 s down on that time – sorry, they finished 0.4 s down – Jakub Matulka and Damian Syty (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2). Third on shakedown were Tymek Abramowski and Jakub Gerber (Citroën C3 Rally2), 1.6 s off Marczyk. Notably, these were Abramowski’s first competitive kilometres in a Rally2 car. Among the two-wheel-drive runners, the best effort came from Sergiusz Janowski and Krzysztof Grzenia (Renault Clio Rally4).

“RALLY BEBOK” UNVEILED

Ahead of the start, a new “Bebok Hajnel” statue was unveiled on Dworcowa Street in Katowice. It joins more than a hundred bronze “Bebok” figures – and becomes the first to wear a rally suit.

Silesian “Beboks” are folk imps that, in legend, scared children straight. In artist Grzegorz Chudy’s interpretation, they’ve become friendly, energetic characters. The small bronze sculptures have colonised Katowice and now form a tourist trail complete with stamp booklets. On the opening day of this year’s Rally Silesia, the 107th figure appeared: “Bebok Hajnel”, seated in a racing car to commemorate Silesia hosting a FIA European Rally Championship round in 2024.

“Hajnel” takes his name from Henryk Mandera – a legendary Silesian rally and circuit driver. From his first start in a Wartburg in 1965 to retirement in 2001, Mandera won over 100 rallies and as many races, collecting 25 Polish titles across both disciplines. He remained devoted to the sport, working with local motor clubs and organisers, and lived in Mikołów.

LUBIAK AND DACHOWSKI TOP HRSMP FIELD

Millers Oils Historic Polish Rally Championship crews were first onto the GZM Katowice superspecial (1.85 km). On the tight, fan-friendly test, quickest were Maciej Lubiak and Grzegorz Dachowski in a Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0. Next up were Marcin Kwaśny/Michał Trela (+0.1 s) and Damian Sawicki/Michał Pryczek (+1.0 s) – both Subaru Imprezas in the HRSMP Open group. The Open podium was rounded out by Bartosz Kołdej/Kacper Pietrusiński in a Renault Clio Maxi (4th time, +1.9 s). In the overall HRSMP order behind Lubiak came Filip Stopa/Piotr Szadkowski in a BMW M3 (5th time, +4.2 s) with Piotr Kiepura/Mateusz Galle third overall in a Lancia Delta Integrale (8th time, +8.1 s).

HOME HERO ON THE BRINK

After the legends came the modern machinery. Through a route that threaded past symbols of the Silesian Voivodeship and of co-host city Katowice, Marczyk/Gospodarczyk were in a class of their own – a second consecutive city-stage success for the pair after last year’s win.

Polish champions Jarosław and Marcin Szeja were next, 1.3 s back. Third were Matulka/Syty (+1.5 s). The top five also featured Grzegorz Grzyb/Adam Binięda (+1.9 s) and Tomasz Byśkiniewicz/Adam Siatkowski (+2.1 s).

In Class 3, first leaders are Adrian Łabuda/Michał Kuśnierz (Ford Fiesta Rally3). In 2WD, Janowski/Grzenia moved to the front.

“Missing Rally Silesia wasn’t an option. Fantastic to put on a show for the fans. See you on Saturday and Sunday’s stages,” said Szeja at the SS GZM Katowice finish.

“We’ll do everything we can to seal the title here at Rally Silesia. Two tough days ahead, though. We need to stay focused and drive our pace – fast and clean,” said Matulka. The 25-year-old from Gliwice can clinch his first Polish title this weekend.

“My standards are high, so I’m not fully satisfied with that run. I was a bit ‘square-armed’ at the start – the barrel turns weren’t perfect. Here I want to make sure we’re sharp and confident before Croatia, where we’ll fight for the European crown,” explained Marczyk.

MASTERCLASS FROM KAJETANOWICZ

Between HRSMP and modern-car runs, the GZM Katowice stage belonged to Kajetan Kajetanowicz. The Ustroń-born driver is a four-time Polish champion, three-time European champion and WRC2 Challenger title winner. He gave fans a taste of world-level speed in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Kajto is a superspecial specialist: 11 wins of that kind in Poland and 28 internationally. He’s also the undisputed king of Warsaw’s “Kryterium Asów” on Karowa Street, taking eight victories on its treacherous cobbles.

SATURDAY IN THE SOUTH AND AT THE SUPERAUTO.PL SILESIAN STADIUM

City stages let fans get close to the action – barrel turns, glowing brakes, handbrake hairpins and those huge light pods cutting through the night. And Katowice isn’t the only show stage at Rally Silesia.

Another fan favourite is the test on the grounds of the Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium (1.5 km), run every year since Rally Silesia’s debut. It will close Saturday’s (20 September) leg.

Before Chorzów, competitors face two loops in the south of the Silesian Voivodeship, each with three stages: Jastrzębie-Zdrój (12.1 km, from 09:00 and 15:15), Hażlach (14.4 km, from 10:00 and 16:15) and Gmina Jasienica (15.5 km, from 11:00 and 17:15).

Between loops, crews will take a 30-minute service in Chorzów (from 13:20).

Access to the service park at the Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium and to all special stages is free.

RALLY SILESIA – CLASSIFICATION AFTER SS1:

1. Marczyk/Gospodarczyk (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 1:41.1 s
2. Szeja/Szeja (Škoda Fabia Rally2) +1.3 s
3. Matulka/Syty (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1.5 s
4. Grzyb/Binięda (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +1.9 s
5. Byśkiniewicz/Siatkowski (Škoda Fabia Rally2) +2.1 s
6. Kołtun/Pleskot (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +4.7 s
7. Abramowski/Gerber (Citroën C3 Rally2) +4.9 s
8. Łabuda/Kuśnierz (Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo) +7.9 s
9. Gabryś/Dymurski (Škoda Fabia Rally2) +8.0 s
10. Ulanowski/Kielar (Ford Fiesta Rally3) +8.1 s

RALLY SILESIA 2025 – SCHEDULE (ROUND 6/7 RSMP, ROUND 10/14 FIA ERT):

Friday, 19 September (1 special stage, total 1.85 km)

  • 18:00 – ceremonial start: Katowice, ul. Dworcowa
  • 19:30 – SS1: GZM Katowice (1.85 km)

Saturday, 20 September (7 special stages, total 85.10 km)

  • 07:20 – Service A: Chorzów, Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium (15 min)
  • 09:00 – SS2: Jastrzębie-Zdrój 1 (11.90 km)
  • 10:00 – SS3: Hażlach 1 (14.40 km)
  • 11:00 – SS4: Gmina Jasienica 1 (15.50 km)
  • 13:20 – Service B: Chorzów, Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium (30 min)
  • 15:15 – SS5: Jastrzębie-Zdrój 2 (11.90 km)
  • 16:15 – SS6: Hażlach 2 (14.40 km)
  • 17:15 – SS7: Gmina Jasienica 2 (15.50 km)
  • 19:30 – SS8: Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium superspecial (1.50 km)
  • 19:50 – Service C: Chorzów, Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium (45 min)

Sunday, 21 September (6 special stages, total 63.30 km)

  • 07:25 – Service D: Chorzów, Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium (15 min)
  • 09:00 – SS9: Marklowice Górne 1 (11.45 km)
  • 10:00 – SS10: Kiczyce 1 (9.70 km)
  • 10:40 – SS11: Silesian Voivodeship 1 (10.50 km)
  • 12:10 – tyre fitting zone: Carbonarium Moszczenica (15 min)
  • 12:40 – SS12: Marklowice Górne 2 (11.45 km)
  • 13:40 – SS13: Kiczyce 2 (9.70 km)
  • 14:20 – SS14: Silesian Voivodeship 2 – Power Stage (10.50 km)
  • 16:45 – finish ceremony: Superauto.pl Silesian Stadium, Chorzów