In six categories, approximately 150 racing cars will line up for the start of the 57th Mecsek Rallye, taking place on Friday and Saturday in and around Pécs. This event marks the third round of the HUMDA National Rally Championship and will also feature the European Championship round for the Historic category.
At the event’s press conference on Wednesday, Tibor Markó, the professional sports organizer of the race, highlighted that this year the legendary event will place special emphasis on safety. Well-equipped and easily accessible spectator zones have been established, and over six hundred organisers will participate in the execution of the rally each day.
He stated that having about 150 cars in the current economic climate is considered a large field in Hungarian terms. He also noted that in the FIA Historic European Championship (EHRC) taking place in Pécs over the weekend, around twenty pairs from nine countries will compete, including four Hungarian participants: Tibor Érdi Jr, Péter Magoss, László Mekler, and János Dunavölgyi. Additionally, another thirty pairs will arrive with legendary brands for the Hungarian historic championship.
Within the HUMDA national championship, the ORB and ORC fields will start with 62 participants on Friday afternoon, while 35 competitors in ORB 2 and 3 will conclude their races by noon on Friday. Additionally, eight Trabant 601s will compete in the Zwei Takt Memory support race.
Tibor Markó explained that the ORB 2 and 3 fields will cover 70 and 50 kilometres respectively, completing 5 and 4 special stages in the eastern and northern parts of the Mecsek mountain. The ORB, ORC, and Historic fields will start in the afternoon and race into the night over 80 kilometres on legendary stages such as Orfű, Árpádtető, Remeterét, and Hetvehely.
On Saturday, the remaining pairs will continue the competition on three sections: Golgota–Hetvehely, Abaliget–Orfű–Árpádtető, and Hatos–Trefortpuszta. The best competitors will cover a total of 160 kilometres of special stages over two days and will ascend the podium at a ceremony scheduled for late afternoon, timed to follow the Hungary–Switzerland European Championship match.
Pécs Mayor Attila Péterffy stated that the city aims to be as good a host for the rally as it was for the Tour de Hongrie a few weeks ago, and for the more than fifty rallies held previously. He mentioned that the car race is traditional in Pécs, represents value, and develops year by year, which is why it occasionally hosts continental championships.
Tibor Érdi Jr, competing in the Historic European Championship field, highlighted that as a two-time defending champion, his goal is to reach the podium in Mecsek, provided their 35-year-old car performs well throughout. Péter Ranga from Pécs, driving a Skoda Fabia R5, noted that they know the tracks well and will try to make up for their dropout in Veszprém.
All important information about the 57th Mecsek Rallye can be found on the event’s website.
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