Rally Silesia among the Eight Most Important Rallies in Europe

Exactly 100 days remain until this year’s Rally Silesia – the largest automotive event in the region. The best rally teams from Europe will arrive in Silesia on the second weekend of October, and the competition in our voivodeship may decide the championship title, as Rally Silesia will be the final round of the series.

Seven Years to the European Championship

The first edition of Rally Silesia took place in 2017, immediately earning the status of a round of the Polish Championship – the most important rally series in our country. In subsequent years, the event was gradually developed – historical rally car drivers joined the participants, Rally Silesia crowned new Polish champions, and a spectacular show was organized – a special stage in the center of Katowice. In 2023, the event gained international status, becoming part of the European Rally Trophy. It also earned recognition from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the European Championship promoter, resulting in Rally Silesia being promoted to the European Rally Championship (FIA ERC) – the second most important series in the world.

Rally Silesia among the Eight Most Important Events in Europe

This year marks the 72nd season of the European Rally Championship. It is the oldest rally series in the world, dating back to 1953. Over the years, many Polish rallies have been included in the calendar of these prestigious competitions, led by the Rally Poland, the second oldest event in the world after the Monte Carlo Rally.

Polish drivers have also had successes in the European Championships. Drivers from the Silesian Voivodeship, such as Sobiesław Zasada, born in Dąbrowa Górnicza, and Kajetan Kajetanowicz, from Ustroń, have won three titles each.

This year’s European Championship calendar consists of eight rounds. So far, three have been held: the Rally Hungary (April 12-14, gravel), the Rally Islas Canarias (May 2-4, asphalt), and the Royal Rally of Scandinavia (Sweden, June 13-15, gravel). Upcoming rounds include the Rally Estonia (July 5-7, gravel), Rally di Roma Capitale (Italy, July 26-28, asphalt), the Barum Czech Rally (August 16-18, asphalt), and the Rally Ceredigion (UK, August 30 – September 1, asphalt).

Among the elite group of eight most important rallies in Europe is also Rally Silesia, which will conclude the season. The final round will take place from October 11-13 on asphalt special stages in the Silesian Voivodeship.

Rally Silesia 2024 – Who and Where Can You See?

The three-day sporting spectacle begins on Friday afternoon, October 11. The rally will start from the center of Katowice with a starting ceremony where fans can see the rally cars up close and meet the drivers. This will be followed by a unique special stage in the center of such a large city – an evening race through the streets of Katowice. On Saturday and Sunday, rally teams can be seen in action on routes in the southern part of the Silesian Voivodeship, including in the Cieszyn district and Jastrzębie-Zdrój.

High-performance rally cars and the best drivers in Europe will also appear at the Silesian Stadium. The multifunctional facility in Chorzów will once again serve as the base for Rally Silesia. Around the “Witch’s Cauldron” will be the service area, where fans can watch rally mechanics at work and see that a gearbox or differential can be replaced in a car in 30 minutes.

The Silesian Stadium will also host the closing ceremony and trophy presentation on Sunday afternoon. Additionally, the organizers of Rally Silesia – the Automobilists’ Foundation – are preparing numerous additional attractions for fans.

The event will not be ticketed – all special stages can be watched for free. The full route of this year’s edition of Rally Silesia will be revealed by the organizers on September.

A High-Level Spectacle

The best rally teams in Europe will ensure a high level of spectacle. Among the FIA ERC participants are drivers known from WRC cars in the World Championships, such as Oliver Solberg, Mads Ostberg, and current European Champion Hayden Paddon. We can also expect Mikołaj Marczyk, a two-time winner of Rally Silesia.

Competition in the European Championship is extremely fierce, as evidenced by the line-up of individual rounds. In the season-opening Rally Hungary, as many as 36 teams started in Rally2/R5 cars – the fastest and most advanced constructions allowed in FIA ERC and Poland.

Rally2 cars are fully high-performance, built specifically for the sport. They are powered by engines with about 300 HP, with power transferred to all wheels. One such car costs about 1.2-1.5 million PLN! In addition, the national elite, including teams in historic cars, will also participate in Rally Silesia.

Global Promotion of the Region

“A rally that is to be a round of the European Championships must meet the highest standards but also bring value to the series and provide variety to the calendar. Rally Silesia meets these requirements and thus deserves to be included in the calendar as the decisive final round. I am confident that the competitors will appreciate the level of challenge posed by Rally Silesia and will be pleasantly surprised by the hospitality and enthusiasm of the people of Silesia,” said Iain Campbell, coordinator of the European Rally Championship.

FIA ERC rounds are broadcast live on dozens of television stations worldwide, including in Poland. Additionally, fans can watch the competition via Rally.TV – an online platform offering not only coverage of every special stage but also many additional materials – interviews, highlights, onboard footage, and analyses.

“Never before has an event of such high rank been held in Silesia. We have joined the group of the eight most important rallies on the Old Continent. The competition for the title in these games is always fierce, providing fans with many emotions and great value for the competitors. Such a prestigious event guarantees reaching motorsport fans all over Europe. It is a great tool for promoting the region, as confirmed by research and statistical data. An FIA ERC round also brings real benefits to the local community – profits for the tourism and event industry,” noted Grzegorz Wróbel, president of the Automobilists’ Foundation.

“Contrary to appearances, car rallies are a team sport. Just as a team wouldn’t succeed without the support of the crew, sponsors, mechanics, or fans, we wouldn’t be able to carry out such a significant project without our partners. From the very beginning, the Silesian Voivodeship has been with us, the strategic partner of the event. We are also supported by GZM and the city of Katowice, as well as many other entities. Thanks to their involvement, we can offer the residents of Silesia an exciting event and ensure global advertising for the region,” concluded Wróbel.