Máté
Benyó says he is working hard to return to the FIA European Rallycross
Championship in 2024 as he bids to build upon his promising maiden campaign in
the series – and if he does succeed in rejoining the grid, the Hungarian has podium
finishes in his sights.
Benyó
showcased a scintillating turn-of-speed on occasion last year. If he was
impressive in reaching the final on his Euro RX1 debut on home soil at Nyirád –
in the esteemed company of Anton Marklund, Andreas Bakkerud and Jānis Baumanis,
European champions all – then he was doubly so elsewhere, as the 22-year-old proved
to be a quick learner indeed behind the wheel of his Korda Racing Peugeot 208.
In
both Portugal and Norway, he placed an excellent fourth in the intermediate
ranking – posting a trio of second-fastest heat times along the way – and his
results were sufficient to secure Benyó ninth in the points table come the end
of the campaign, as well as the ‘Rookie of the Year’ accolade, selected by fans
and industry experts.
“Being
my first season at European Championship level, there were many unknown factors
for me,” reflected the Budapest native. “Looking back at the overall picture,
it’s evident that I started the year much stronger than I finished it. I think
I had some very good moments and significant ‘partial results’, but especially during
the second half, I couldn’t convert these into good final results.
“With
a year now under my belt, I think if I can continue racing in Euro RX1 in 2024,
a much more experienced and mature Máté Benyó will be sitting in the car. I’m taking my winter preparation more seriously
than ever; I’ve been drawing upon the
successes of last year and analysing the mistakes I made to work on my
weaknesses and consolidate my strengths.
“I’m still working with my team to put together the budget,
but we definitely want to be out there on the grid and to become a consistent
participant in the finals, aiming for podium finishes. It won’t be easy
competing against such fast and experienced drivers at this level, but I’m
highly motivated and ready to embrace the challenge.
“I’m working with a great team to enhance my development, and I hope the
invested effort will bear fruit. When the season kicks off, I’ll be ready to
deliver my best performance possible!”
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