Euro RX of Hungary: Top five reasons to tune in

Wide open battle in Euro RX1

Anton Marklund may have dominated the 2022 Euro RX1 title fight, but at Nyirád this weekend, picking a favourite is a much tougher task. The champion is back, but in a car conceived a decade ago. Last year’s championship runner-up Jānis Baumanis has got the band back together at RX Team Latvia, the ever-improving Enzo Ide finished second in Hungary 11 months ago and reigning British Rallycross Champion Patrick O’Donovan now has a potent ex-Hansen Motorsport Peugeot 208 to play with.

Then, of course, there is home hero Tamás Kárai, fans’ favourite Andreas Bakkerud in a similar car, rising star Sivert Svardal in a Volkswagen Polo and a clutch of local specialists who know the ‘Red Cauldron’ like the back of their hand. Let battle begin...

Keeping the legacy alive

Marklund’s SET Promotion-run Ford Fiesta RX will celebrate the memory of the late Ken Block within its new livery. The car carries the American flag in tribute to Block, while the team’s support of the foundation established to continue his creative legacy, 43i.org – intended to forge paths of opportunity for the exceptionally driven who may lack the proper support system for growth and success – is acknowledged within the design.

Home heroes

As mentioned above, both the Euro RX1 and Euro RX3 grids are peppered with Hungarian stars eager to spring a surprise on home soil. Kárai has been a Euro RX regular for many years and on his day, is a match for just about anybody else out there, while László Kiss is a former national title-winner and Máté Benyó recently triumphed in the 2023 Hungarian Rallycross Championship curtain-raiser at Máriapócs.

In Euro RX3, meanwhile, there are high hopes for Ferenc Ficza, who used to compete in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The 26-year-old has made a successful transition from circuit racing to rallycross of late, beating multiple champion Roman Castoral to honours in the domestic series’ Super Touring Cars - 2000 class last year.

A new winner awaits

It may be just the opening round of the season, but the stakes are already high in Euro RX3, where none of the 13-strong grid have previously won in the European Championship. Many of the entrants have prior podium form, however, and all will be fired-up to get their challenge underway in the best possible fashion...

Černý looking for revenge

Jan Černý came, saw and so very nearly conquered at Nyirád last year, leading the way until the very last lap of the final, when a small mistake allowed eventual champion Kobe Pauwels to gain the upper hand. The Czech ace has gained a giant-killing reputation behind the wheel of his little Škoda Citigo, frequently taking the fight to Euro RX3’s phalanx of pace-setting Audi A1s. Can he go all the way this weekend? Don’t bet against it...